Betty, if the ferret responded lovingly to her name then I'd think sticking with it would make sense, but since she has had so little interaction that she doesn't even respond to her name, sure you should feel free to consider changing it. We've had adults who have gotten new names with no problems, and when a ferret has been abused and has a name we always change it as part of new beginnings -- kind of like the way that a number of people who were abused children change names as adults or take a legal alias. Steve and I are wondering if part of Warp's problem may that she might also be starting to develop megaesophagus along with her small intestine problem from autoimmune disease, or if all the reflux and vomiting she's had associated with that might have damaged part of the esophagus. She says "Glack!" sharply several times after each meal now, even ones which are given vertically, and if she eats in non-vertical postures she is not unlikely to bring up at least part of what she's eating. On her own she will simply no longer eat enough to maintain even a thin weight, and even a thin soup with something like A/D will be licked-above rather than eaten -- sort of smell-tasting rather than tasting. On the other hand, if it is put into an accordian -top dropper (Ezy Dose, 1 tsp Dr. Clown 67032) and held above her head with her held vertically she eats a small but full meal that way, very happily so, too. Should have tried the vertical posture before now. We just let it slowly drip into her mouth and she obviously has great pleasure from it. Yesterday she happily did that every four hours plus over a space of maybe 18 hours, and she weighs 3/4 oz more than yesterday and is more enthusiastic. Of course, even with the gain that is still only 1# 4 and 1/2 oz. on a girl who normally is about 1# 11. Her energy level has not dropped below low-normal but I think that's because we jumped so fast with assistance, given the rapid weight loss. She's a bony little thing now, but lovey-dovey and not acting like she's in any pain except in association with normal eating. Hope she does not also have that, but am starting to learn about it in case. Have a discussion and an appointment set up with vet. I know there's been stint work done with dogs and that there have been some dog meds considered for ferrets (but don't know if any were useful on trials in ferrets, or what would even make sense to try on her, yet), and know that vertical feeding makes a great difference, and that aspiration pneumonia is a grave danger in such individuals if she does have megaesophagus. It may not apply to her, and we'll heave a sigh of relief if she looks okay on that score, but would rather be as safe as possible for her, even if it does give us some worry. The only esophageal problems we've ever dealt with before in a ferret was an esophagus compressed by dilative cardiomyopathy, so this scare is just one of those unpleasant reasons to learn which can happen. It's easier in some ways when they get things a person is used to dealing with. NOT happy about what I've read on megaesophagus so am hoping it's not that; maybe the posture is somehow easier on her friable small intestine, which hopefully hasn't torn itself again. Six years is too danged young for her to have such concerns. [Posted in FML issue 3068]