Amy, although ferrets, dogs and cats are raw meat eaters they DO acquire mycobacterium, E. coli, and Salmonella from raw meat. Probably most don't get those; probably most who do fight them off, BUT the compromised ones can get infections which greatly complicate their care. Vets repeatedly talk about such animals they have treated. It seems to be one of the situations in which there isn't a huge amount published but a number of clinicians and pathologists (like the three or four quoted the other day) say a whopping, 'Oh, YEAH. We have run into that in practice and it isn't fun." Clarification below: BETTER control, not been control... Sigh... >So is "syringe" feeding because of the very real risk of aspiration >pneumonia if it is done wrong. BTW, we have found that there are other >things which give been control on that score (Hence, "syringe" with >quotes...) with our own favorite being this: > > http://www.apothecaryproducts.com/catalogue/product.asp? > CatID=1&SubCatID=14&ProdID=67032 >due to EXCELLENT control, easy fill, easy clean, etc. And, no, we don't own any shares in the company and don't sell for them. Our only communication was years ago when we bought two bulk lots (almost all gone now) for shelters, young relatives who were popping out loads of babies, and ourselves for the ferrets. [Posted in FML issue 4409]