well now that you know it...i just hope you follow thru with it everyday... thats the only way you can make it up tp them...you should always think of it this way...if this or that happened to you HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? cause thats how it is...our animals are not animals...they ARE OUR CHILDREN, our BABIES, our fleash and BLOOD...they are no different to me than my own children...so yes you are still gonna feel like s@#$ but learn your lesson and dont ever do it again... ive had ferrets for over 4yrs and i still feel guilty about this or that...i learned about ferrets before i got them..i even picked out a vet and talked to a vet...i had the cage and had every book i could find and order... my first was a 5 month old albino...we named her slinkey...slinkey got sick after a month...took to the vet and did a barium series..thats when we found out that slinkey was a he and not a she...and what i thought was a belly button (an petco employee told me that) wasnt...so imagine my surprise!!! i always wondered why he loved those belly kisses so much!!! but the stuff he got ahold of was a nesting ball...he ingested it and it made him really sick...now you figure that i wouldnt have made a mistake but i did...in fact these balls are designed for ferrets to use..but i wont... my point was just be there for them now..and go to the vet and have them checked out and make sure that they have all their shots and since they are of an older age get bloodwork on them...that way the time they have left with you can be healthy and enjoyable for them and you!!! and if someone flames you just go on and forget it...cause NOW YOU ARE DOING RIGHT BY THEM..so just keep doing it everyday...and they will love you for that!!! sincerly, trudie [Posted in FML issue 3577]