Well, since Meeteetse had an update Ashling needed one, too. She still hasn't regrown her fur since both adrenals came out but it's not unusual for fur re-growth to not happen till the next shedding season so that's fine. Her Prednisone and Fluorinef are going in easily, and she is back in the big cage and having full romp. She does not miss most of the normal post-operative care, but let's face facts: careful post-operative care at home keeps them alive after surgery and is as important as their vet care, just as nursing is as important to survival as the surgical skills of a physician for us humans. Ashling does miss the warm post-surgical sleep sacks so we're letting her have time with some, but she is happy to no longer be using newspaper for litter even though it did keep her incision clean. She likes having more room and no restrictions on her activity level, but those curbs on her activity kept her alive, too. She is happy to be in with the others, but given how some of our crew are prone to fussing with stitches having her apart was essential for her survival. She doesn't miss the antibiotics at all, but she does miss being fed a/d (a liver based food available from vets which we find important after operations) mixed with water and slowly given by hand. Anyway, overall she is happy despite the reduction in fancy food, warmed beds, and such. She especially likes the fact that she can climb again. That's a big no-no post-operatively but it's hard to stop her. BTW, we have NEVER to date in 18 years with ferrets lost one post-operatively. One of these days we will, but this has worked so far. So has pre-operative care like giving nothing with garlic, vitamin E or anything else that could promote excessive bleeding before a surgery, and nothing which can either depress or stimulate their systems too much like true licorice (not artificial) or caffeine or so on. (Though we don't give the first to any in case of pre-existing heart disease which might be worsened, the second sometimes gets stolen from Steve's pop cans if he loses track and one gets spilled.) After all, we humans are not supposed to take certain things, so it makes sense to use the same level of care. Right? Seven has been trying to fight with her now and then (Seven wants power over her.) but that's bad form and Seven goes into the carry cage for times out, which seems to have stopped her attacking Ashling when down. "Bad form, Seven!" (Yes, Steve actually caught me shouting that once, but she's very smart and a ready learner, plus the carry cage is ready for her "shunning" if needed again-- all of five or ten minutes since she catches on fast being a very smart creature.) Ashling gets to have a blood test late this week (as will Meeteetse for her DES check). It's too early to know if Ashling will ever be off Fluorinef or if she will always need it, but many ferrets have taken it long-term with fine results and she is flourishing on it now. [Posted in FML issue 3152]