Blockage are difficult, and, yes, they can sometimes kill rapidly. Full blockages often kill within 48 hours. It's a major reason why people watch stools as well as intake, and why ferret-proofing is so important. Please, learn from this rather than beating yourself up. Look at what happened here yesterday. Thank goodness Steve caught Ashling when he did. She scaled a piece of furniture which has NEVER have a ferret scale it in around 19 years and 8 months. I had Allegra up there! That is fatal for them (as are an assortment of other prescription and OTC meds). Had to totally re-arrange where many things are as a result. All that any of us can do is to live and learn. I am very sorry that you suffered this, but as a friend once told me, "As long as they are in your heart they are never truly gone.". What you taught will save others, as will what you learned. [Posted in FML issue 3688]