I feel like I am about to go mad! This is the 5th pet (4th ferret), since October 4th! I just posted about 12 days ago about Mr Snickers dying and now Puffin, my little albino female is gone also. The vet has no idea as to why she died, nor does he know why Mr Snickers died suddenly, nor Cody nor BJ. However, there are certain symptoms they all had in common and we are suspecting some kind of poisoning perhaps?? Let me explain and maybe some else can come up with some ideas we haven't. BJ passed away October 4 and we think he had lymphoma although he showed no signs previously of being ill at all. Cody passed October 20..we don't know from what. He became weak in hind quarters, disoriented at times, was put on pred for suspected insulinoma (vet felt the symptoms warranted it) and within a few days he could not walk, couldn't even stand, became anemic and jaundiced and was pooping blackish stools. He died within a few days of being put on the pred. Bingo, cat, Dec. 4, had an abcessed fang. Was found to have severe kidney damage when taken in for tooth although he had received a clean bill of health not quite a year before when got his shots. Mr Snickers, May 31, 2002, had adrenal, became blocked, was in hospital for 4 days. Was doing excellent till Memorial Day weekend.. Friday and Saturday of that weekend, he was playing, running around, eating like a hog, just being a little fool. Sunday we went to take him out of cage to clean litter box and he could not stand up, was listing to the right (head and body), had pooped blackish, seemed somewhat disoriented and scared, (wanted to stand up). From that point on, he went off his food and water, had to be force fed. Vet had and has, no idea what happened. Puffin, June 10, 2002. Was 5 years old, had a tumor on back but vet said not cancerous. Could find no tumors inside upon exam nor any other health problems. She also had started to lose control of hindquarters a couple days before death, to the point where she could not stand up, was pooping blackish, went off food and water, displayed same signs as Cody, BJ, Mr Snickers. By time I got her into vet last night, since morning her nose, gums, tips of ears had turned jaundice like. She was also anemic he felt. She was fine a few days before! All of them were! The only other symptom they ALL showed at some point, (not on a continuous basis but off and on) was their pads turned bright cherry red off and on. The vet did not know what caused this and still doesn't. He thought perhaps carbon monoxide poisoning although he knows of no studies on ferrets and carbon monoxide. I had the gas co. out today and they said water heater was not venting too well and fixed that but found nothing else. They said it would be difficult to find carbon monoxide since the windows were open and it would dissipate the gas. I asked the vet if it could be something they are passing one to the other..he didn't think so..he mentioned heliobacter but said the symptoms didn't fit. I read up on it last night and they don't. Cody and Mr Snickers were both on pred and he thought perhaps it was that but Puffin was not and never has been. We are at a loss although we ALL feel that something is most definitely going on. It just isn't "normal" for 5 animals to die one right after the other in such a short time..and most with the same symptoms. Does anybody have any other ideas?? I am so scared of losing my last 3 girls!!! Oh, I also should mention that I myself have had alot of unexplained symptoms which my Dr keeps chalking up to me being diabetic. Bad headaches, not normal ones that go away with Tylenol or something, unexplained and sudden dizziness and ringing in the ears, constant fatigue no matter how much sleep i get, off again/on again nausea..a number of things that I certainly never had with my diabetes before. My personal care aide told me that she usually develops a headache when she has been here abit and it goes away when she is out of here for about 1/2 hour. She also feels dizzy at times and off again/on again nausea. She also seems disoriented at times (since October), like she doesn't remember what she's supposed to do. That's odd too. Obviously something is affecting all of us but what? If any of you could brainstorm and maybe think of something that fits all this I'd sure appreciate it! I'm going to be moving in mid July and just hope I have my last 3 girls to move with! Thank you also to all those who sent cards, condolences and information regarding Mr Snickers death. It was appreciated far more than you'll ever know! Gerry Punkin ("I AM the matriarch"!!!) Sweetpea (" huh??" ....she always seems perplexed!) Hopkin (" I just LOVE being bad!! Aren't I SO cute??") At the Bridge: BJ, Cody, Bingo (cat), Mr Snickers and Puffin. I'm so sorry guys. I love you, I miss you. [Posted in FML issue 3811]