Black Sheep, the only people who know when it is time for a ferret to be given a mercy shot (and most of our's have passed that way when it was time) are the people who are right there and know the individual. Ashling is certainly not at peak form: she is terminally ill. BUT despite her rapid muscle loss and bloating she PLAYS -- with ferrets and with us. She is still deferred to by the other ferrets. She is kept clean enough to suit anyone's standards, including her own, though we help her a little on and off if she needs that. She is full of kisses, loves being a bed guest, still goes through their tubes, still steals my socks, and still plays with bell mousies. When she gets to the point where she has pain then we'll try meds for that. Why? Because we know from experience that some terminal ferrets get EXTRA good and happy time that way. One thing we know from experience is that when a ferret needs pain meds grogginess does not occur. Instead -- when the meds work -- the ferret gets extra good time before the ferret finally indicates that she or he is ready to go. Ferrets are like humans in relation to being to enjoy life despite burdens. A number of people here have pain, or handicaps, or both. Many would be surprised just how much a person can cope with on that score and still truly enjoy life. The majority of ferrets we have known over 21 years are the same way. They are smart and they are flexible. If one joy can't be experienced they will take pleasure from others. Awwwwwww, Ashling just came up to me and gave me a great big kiss on each foot. She is such a sweetheart. She came back and gave me another kiss on each. She knows they hurt. Now she is off on house patrol. Okay, I;m back. I had to help with her patrol. It takes her longer but she acts so proud when she does it. She just found my socks and is taking one. Today is a very good day for her. Yesterday she was sleepy but very huggy and kissy. She will have a good day, then one or two tired ones. Okay, I just got an ankle kiss. I think that they can tell where there is inflammation. Okay, I'm back again. She was acting like she wanted to run, but the most she can manage now is a bit of trot so we use the pantyhose sling because her front legs are stronger than her rear and then she can move fast with out help and that gets her so happy. I guess maybe it is good that Steve let her out to the front so you can get an idea of what is going on. She's away now. I suspect she has settled in under the bed and is going back to sleep. That's what she does the most now, of course. Okay, looking back I notice that before Steve let her out of the ferret room I was talking about pain meds. Another thing about pain meds is that they are prescription so of course the ferret gets an assessment to see if anything else might help. Also, it is often possible to try the meds there in the hospital and then see if there is enough of a response to go that route instead of a mercy shot right away. There isn't always. In Ashling's case, though, if she starts bad pain pretty soon she is a good candidate for getting some quality time by using that technique. If she starts bad pain after the malignancy has done more damage then pain meds may be useless and a mercy shot called for right off. The Lasix, too,right now has the possibility of doing that for her: improved length of quality time which will allow improved quantity of time before a percy shot is needed. We pretty much habitually try to give any chance we can till the ferrets themselves give up. In the past we've seen ferrets who could be saved live and go on for years as a result, and we've seen ones who were dying get to really enjoy their finally month and years. [Posted in FML issue 4345]