I posted for the first time around 10 days ago. I was so proud of the ferret I adopted 2 weeks ago named Heidi that I had nicknamed Hideykins, since she loved to hide under the covers, she also had a fetish for chewing leather. Heidi quit eating and drinking last Sunday for some unknown reason. I force fed her all week and took her to the vet every day for fluids. I tried a third vet Friday and she wanted to keep her, put her on an IV and injectable anti-biotics. She did well Friday evening but didn't make it through the night. She was so tiny she didn't have any reserves to fall back on. The necropsy revealed an orange enlarged liver, pancreatitis, and an inflamed stomach with ulcers, which started first and enflamed the others nobody could tell, but that was why she wouldn't eat. The vet and the lady that runs the local shelter concluded it was poor food in her first home compounded by her small size sped up these thing that usually only hit ferrets twice Heidi's age. The only comforting thought is that there was nothing anyone could have done, even by the time she was surrendered to the shelter. It has been a hard week. I only had her such a short time, 2 weeks with one week of her being so sick. I will always remember her licking my face and chasing a golf ball all around the apartment, and her curled up fast asleep on my chest. She was a perfect ferret that I know awaits for me at the front door of my heavenly home. Sorry for all the bad news, I do already plan on getting another ferret, one home bred by the local shelter, as soon as one is available to bring home in about 8 weeks. I held a couple of the little 3 week old kits yesterday while playing with all the shelter's fuzzies. Thank you for all the great posts on ferret antics, attitudes, and all the rest of the informative, constructive missives. J. T. Moore [Posted in FML issue 3094]