I would first like to thank all who contacted me with kind words to sooth my sad soul over the loss of my 5 1/2 year old Vada. The anesthesia used was Isoflurane and preliminary results from her Necropsy showed liver failure and a mass on her spleen. To know more than that I have to wait for the histopaths(sp) to come back. I made the decision after losing several ferrets this year that from that point on I would do Necropsies on any of my ferrets who die. I request if anything really odd or bizarre or unknown is found for biopsies to be sent out. My vet charges $42.00 for a basic necropsy and $50.00 for biopsies. Money is very tight but as long as I can charge another dollar on my credit card I will try to save them or find out if I can do something different the next time. My having necropsies done on my ferrets is my own personal thing. I can see if you are presented with the choice of "do I spend X amount of money on this my dead ferret (for a necropsy)or spend the same amount on food or vaccines for my living ferrets" then I can understand the dilemma. This does not apply to those who arent even giving their ferrets basic care. An attempt was made to get blood from Vada without gassing her but she was squirming so much they decided to wait until Friday while she was under having her dental work. How sad that so many of us are losing our babies every day. Rita Brannan [Posted in FML issue 4294]