I always chuckle internally too at the "allergies" excuse when taking in a surrendered ferret as I am allergic to them as well - Especially the intact males - they can really get my asthma going! I can understand re-homing a new arrival animal to the family when your child is gasping for breath in the middle of the night, but this is not the case in most of the "allergy surrenders" that come to my shelter. My Dr. also suffered from allergies and asthma. He discovered and reported back to the manufacturer that many of his patients who were taking "Stratera" for ADD reported to him that their allergy & asthma symptoms significantly decreased or disappeared since taking the drug. Suffering from these things himself, he put himself on the drug to test the theory & had the same results. He then worked with the drug company on a study and has since put hundreds of his patients, including me, on Stratera for allergies/asthma. It is still an off-label use at this time. It's important to know that this is a NON-simulant ADD drug - at the time I started taking it 2 yrs ago, it was the only non-stimulant ADD drug - I don't know, that may have changed by now. I had not had an asthma attack in the two years I was taking the drug. I recently ran out and needed to have my prescription renewed. Procrastinator that I am, I was out for a month and I'll be darned if the wheezing didn't slowly start back up when I was laying down and then throughout the month, progress to full blown athma attacks. Back on it now for a week and the symproms are starting to decrease. Won't let myself run out again!! As luck would have it, I've always joked that I was the poster child for ADD - so I've got a double benefit here!! On to Binder Clips for sctuffing to trim claws - I just don't get it - with the exception of a handful of my DMK kids who are not use to it yet - I trim the claws of everyone in the shelter with just a dab of Ferretone on their tummies while I flip away. Some lick faster than others & I need to add a little more by the time I'm on the back feet - but my guys come running at manicure time......."oooh me, me........ can I be next?!" Jerri The Ferret Haven Louisville, KY [Posted in FML 5838]