Chris,   Please, give our best to Mocha and make her a smell sack of interesting
herbs, spices, etc. in a paper bag.   Has your vet considered Ann Jeglum's
protocol which worked so well with Katie's Bandit?  It's:  week 1:  L-aspargase
(elspar -- which also worked well on Fritter in her two cancers during old age)
40 iu/kg IM, SC orIP; week 2:  vincristine 0.03 mg/kg IV (Do not extravascate);
week 3:  cytotoxin 12.5 mg (1/2 of 25 mg tab) one daily for 4 days; week 4:
vincristine as above; methotrexate 2.5 mg tab one dose.  Repeat as needed.  Do
regular exams, CBCs, etc. as suggested in her write up or as recommended by your
consulting veterinary oncologist.  The cost is pretty affordable and if a
children's chemo center has left-overs of some of these from humans done the
same  (acceptable period depending on drug) it can be lowered more.
If Mocha has a lost of muscle loss or cramping from the pred massages of legs
and feet help a lot and will reduce the curling of the feet.  If those get
really bad then doing them while ferret is in warm water works even better.
 
I found some errors and need-to-adds in my original FAQ draft today.  Two
involved left out words and will probably get me a rich ribbing from my vets who
know A.  That I know that ferrets are not canines, and B.  That I am not not
about to check my vets inside and out for tumors.
 
Here are a few thoughts on other things which maybe should be in the FAQ, items
I missed and really should include, and major corrections I've noted as needed
(missed commas and the like can be handled in less intrusive ways.
 
TOPICS  I DIDN'T INCLUDE BUT SHOULD:  climbing and ferret's common trouble
judging heights, dragging (not only something your ferret does with toys and
bowls but also how one finds burrows used by wild species such as BFFs because
of rock dragging), rear wiping (normal and a great way to spread around one's
scent), deep sleeps, sleeping with eyes open, sleeping "popcorn" or "corn
fritter" smell which seems to serve the same function as yawning does in many
primates including humans, and probably several other items which folks will
remind me about.
 
WHICH OF THESE TOPICS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND WHO (plural) WOULD LIKE TO TACKLE
THEM (?):  breeding, shelters, finding  your ferret when it is lost (both in the
home and outside), clubs, rehabing abused animals, children and ferrets
(including typical warnings such as babies and toddlers should be kept apart
from any type of pet unless supervised), introducing ferrets to other ferrets,
introducing ferrets to other pet species (probably several folks with experience
in different critters), etc.
 
Nancy Hartman is doing diet, maintenance, and care.  I suspect that includes
ferret-proofing a home, but if not, could someone, please, pick that up since it
can be a big section?
 
WHERE I GOOFED IN YESTERDAY'S POSTING:  I should have included crying
(wrack-wrack, andwhimpering), and should have noted that many vocal patterns are
quite ancient with some, such as hissing also being found in herps and birds,
not only in mammals, mustelids, or ferrets.   Where it looked like I called
ferrets canines what I meant to write was "other order Carnivora pets such as
felines or canines", and I should have mentioned that there are mustelids such
as weasels which are true hunters and very able ones.  Within training I should
have mentioned hissing and scruffing as a useful technique which should also be
learned for trips to the vet.  BRUCE, HOW CAN I INCLUDE MENTION OF THE MYSTERY
ILLNESS AND STILL BE CORRECT IN THE STUFF I WROTE?  No, I don't check my vets
over to see if their bodies have tumors, though I laughed so hard I cried when I
noticed what I had written.  It should have been "P" for pet rather than "v"
which I had just typed so many times my finger danced there.   I think it would
also pay for me to include in #21 that starting in middle age it is a good idea
to have regular CBCs and other tests as recommended by vet.  I won't waste your
time with the other errors.
 
Caught Ruffie fast asleep on her back the other day, tongue out,  belly glowing
warm pink through her fur, and a Mother Hubbard's dog biscuit hugged firmly to
her chest in her little, stunted arms.   (Not a put down -- Ruffie is a dwarf.)
 
Love to all,  Sukie, Steve, Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper, Spot, Meeteetse
 
[Posted in FML issue 0621]