This is a short story that should not have been. Lily came to my Hospice/Rehab in serious medical trouble. Diarrhea, ulcer, dehydrated. I practically threw a temper tantrum to get her owner to get her to a vet. Of course the owner insisted on her vet, a dog and cat vet. One look at her and the on duty vet said euthanasia. I stepped in and said give her 24 hours with me. In the following 24hrs, I was able to rehydrate her, get the stomach pain under control and get her to begin eating on her own. In short, she was recovering. At the end of the 24 hours, she went back to the cat/dog vet who informed me he had diagnosed her with Cushing's disease 3yrs prior, and she was terminal. He couldn't conceive of ulcers in ferrets. In short, he euthanized her. For those of you who don't know, ferrets don't get Cushing's, and ulcers are common in stressed ferrets. Adrenal tumors are seldom terminal, but ignorance is. Lily paid for an unqualified vet's ignorance and conceit with her life. Unconscionable. Please, please, please!!! Make sure your vet is a FERRET vet. Ferrets are not dogs or cats and are not related to them. Time and time again I see or hear about ferrets that have been misdiagnosised, mistreated, and even killed by improper vet care. Please make sure this heartbreak doesn't happen to you and your loved one doesn't pay for someone's ego with their life. Rest in peace Lily..........I know we'll meet again. [Posted in FML issue 3907]