Little Mattie's trip to the vet did not reveal any gross abnormalities. Her heart checks out OK, no signs of edema, and her airways seem clear. The vet noted a slightly enlarged spleen, but attached no clinical significance to it -- it could be an indicator, or it could just be a largish spleen. There is some redness around her "privvies" possibly indicating irritation or infection, though for the most part unrelated to the coughing attacks (it could be an infection drifting about, or she's getting furballs licking herself -- yes they both get Ferret-lax a few times a week). Trying a course of Sulftrim, broad spectrum antibiotic, to rule out upper respiratory infection, and if she has a UTI it'll knock that out too. She has plenty of energy, judging from the from the bleeding thumb the vet acquired after Mattie decided that all of this scruffing, poking and prodding just wasn't her bag. Funny, she's not usually a bite risk, but I think getting up early with no breakfast, combined with the possible infection, combined with a perceived attack (if not to her body to her dignity, LOL), contributed to a moment of bad temper. Occupational hazard, a least she isn't a pit bull!! So now I get to feed her grape flavored suspension bid for ten days, I hope she likes grapes!!!!! Thanks to all who sent e-mails with suggestions and ideas, and the friendly but stern admonitions to get her to a vet. Now I need to get Beeper to stop sulking cuz she wasn't invited on this trip! Todd Collins [log in to unmask] Mattie and Beeper email TBA after we build our server under the couch with stolen network cards [Posted in FML issue 3548]