Thursday, September 11th, my handsome DEW, Milo, slept all day and did not eat anything. He was very lethargic, not eating, and had lost weight. Friday at 8:05 am I called Northwoods Animal Hospital. The receptionist told me that Dr. Dan Hudson wasn't in, Dr. Melissa Hudson was booked up, and Dr. Albert was off for the day. I told her that somebody needed to see him because he might have a blockage. She referred me to Dr. Dan Johnson/Avian & Exotic Animal Care in N. Raleigh and gave me his number. I called Avian & Exotic immediately. The receptionist talked to the doctors and said that they would work Milo in. I got to their office at 9:00 am. They asked if I could leave him and they would call me when they had examined him. Dr. Christine Eckerman-Ross called at 11:30am. She said that "Milo's blood glucose was 45 and he was a little dehydrated which indicates insulinoma, and that he could be put on Prednisone, have a partial pancreatectomy, or chemo." I told her to go with the Prednisone for now. I was not asked about giving him fluids, therefore I could not have declined them as stated on my receipt/medical form. I thought that if he needed fluids they would give him some. Milo was not given Prednisone until I got there to pick him up at 1:00 pm. Milo was prescribed .4 cc of Prednisone twice daily [this amount seems high to me], feed him duck soup, and another bg check in two weeks. I took him home but he did not improve; in fact, his condition got worse through the night. There was something very wrong with my baby, more than just insulinoma. Milo was suffering very badly and the only help I could get for him had done nothing to ease his pain. By Saturday morning at 7am, Milo was almost lifeless. Dr. Dan Hudson was reached at home and stated he was going to be in the clinic and to bring Milo ASAP. If Dr. Eckerman-Ross/Avian & Exotic had taken an x-ray, she would have seen what was wrong with him. He did indeed have a blockage - from Lymphosarcoma. To find out, after an exam by his regular doctor (Dr. Hudson), that Milo's suffering could have been avoided is deplorable on Dr. Eckerman-Ross' part. An animal suffering when it could have been prevented is unforgiveable. Milo was helped to Rainbow Bridge that morning, as Dr. Hudson said he could relieve his pain and suffering only a few hours. I miss my big ol' white boy so much. Do you know the song, "Dirty White Boy?" I sang that to Milo, only it was He's My Big Ol' White Boy, or He's My Stinky White Boy. Of course, he would look at me like he was thinking, "Whoa, Dude; this lady is really trippin!" Milo was the sweetest and biggest ferret that I have ever known. It was really a sight to see a ferret his size do the ferret dance! I only had him a short time but he will always hold the biggest piece of my heart. Karen O'Neal [Posted in FML issue 4281]