thank you everyone for the good advice on heartworms! i knew that vet didn't know what she was talking about. the funny thing... when i mentioned that i had read on the internet that ferrets are susceptible to them, she was like, "oh i hate that when people go on the internet and then think they're an expert." bah! ferret owners have to join lists like this one and research books, internet, etc. in order to help determine what's best for their little ones. murphy does have a new vet, one that is much more knowledgable about ferrets. i posted a note yesterday asking if anyone in maryland knew of a good vet on the eastern shore. i don't need that anymore. well, if you live near cambridge i'd recommend choptank animal hospital. dr. kenneth burgwin and dr. joanna mccoy are a husband and wife team. they're excellent! i took murphy in today and he's now on 1/4 tablet of the dog variety of heartguard. he took his first dose crushed up in a gravy-flavored suspension liquid. he didn't like it too much, but he took it. thanks again for all your emails. i've printed out all the information from the links you've all sent. i'm going to copy them and give them to his old veterinarians. thanks, vicky and murphy :o) *mama, this gravy stuff is gross! where's the broccoli?!* [Posted in FML issue 3089]