OK, don't kill the messenger, this was a reply to a friend , thought it was worth mentioning. You know in the days gone past we would have called this "old age". In our quest for immortality we lose sight of the most simple fact of all, when the day comes we must check out of the hotel. Some people try everything to the point of absurdity and just frustrate themselves because they can't stop the aging process . REMEMBER the most important health fact of all when it comes to ferrets, we have pushed their "normal" lifespan so far out there that if these animals were humans they would be something like 300-400 years old . You could only imagine the health problems of a human being 200 yrs old would reveal. Severe bone de-calcification, liver panels that are outside of the limits to the part you'd think you are looking at a Galapagos tortoise. Spinal column collapse, nerve degeneration, lymph glands dying off, and all the the problems we see in ferrets. It rare for a ferret to show pain so when they are so bad off that they are grinding teeth or crying out they are in so much pain that there is only one human option left, let them go , let them see their old friends again , and remember that you gave them a happy and fruitful life. Now "XXXX" sounds like the ferret that's sticking his/her toe towards Mr. Death and saying "SEE YA LATER!!!" He's remarkable. As long as he is not in pain let him charge on , but remember, Dr. Death eventually comes a calling, and it's up to you to know when time is up and to deleiver him into the paws of his friends at the bridge where they all "Moon" Dr. Death as we are immortal , just not on this planet. News from the "I never saw that movie" column, Transporter is a 4 star action/adventure , now out on DVD.. Z32weasel [Posted in FML issue 4121]