Here's a post for those who like medical stories:
 
I was away on vacation and at a conference for a couple weeks, and when I
returned, the Belle and Caruso seemed at first glance happy to see me and
healthy.  A friend had come in twice a day to play with them and see to
their needs.  They were obviously miffed at being deserted for so long, and
had left deposits in new places, trashed a tissue box, and generally created
mayhem.
 
I noticed Belle's chin seemed to have a rash, then realized it was simply
dirty, and washed it off.  The next day, I realized her private parts (vulva
and rectum) were slightly red and inflamed, and that general area seemed to
be irritated.  So I called my nearest ferret expert, Bev Fox, to take a
look.
 
She came over and examined Belle.  There were new sores on her hindquarters.
We were both perplexed about what might have caused the irritation, and
wondered if she had gotten into any chemicals.  As Bev held her and we
chatted for a while, Bev noticed that she was drooling (Belle, not Bev) and
I realized her chin was dirty again.  We pried Belle's mouth open (it's
amazing how strong the jaws are of a 1.2lb ferret) and discovered an ulcer
on the roof of her mouth.
 
Well this concerned us more.  We didn't know how the ulcers were related to
the other sores, if one caused the other, but if the ulcer bothered her
enough to effect her eating, we could have one sick ferret very quickly.  So
off to the vet.
 
The vets office is familiar with ferrets, but not particularly expert.  Dr.
Letosky was particularly perplexed by the mouth ulcer.  So she checked some
of her reference books, and brought back one to show me.  (Ferret sections
written by Drs. Susan Brown and Elizabeth Hillyer?.) She decided Belle has
focal ulcerative pyoderma, caused by staf or strep bacteria.  Stress from
being left at home along may have made her susceptible.  Antibiotics were
prescribed, along with a anti-bacterial shampoo for the sores, and a
yucky-tasting mouth wash to swab on her mouth ulcer.
 
Well, that was a week ago, and I'm pleased to say Belle recovered nicely.  I
knew she was getting better when she jumped on Caruso and made him squeak a
couple days ago.  Sores and ulcer are now almost completely healed.  She
never stopped eating her regular food, and turned up her nose at the canned
Iams I got her.  She hated the swabbings and bathings, but liked the pink
antibiotic, though not taking it from a syringe.  So I put the stuff in a
little bowl with a couple drops of ferretone, and she laps it right up.
 
The moral of the story is watch out for dirty chins.
 
And thanks Bev for the consultation.
 
Linda, Richard, Joy, Belle and Caruso
[Posted in FML issue 1620]