I wanted to give everyone who has ferrets with early onset cataracts a heads up. Two of my Ohio rescues developed cataracts before they were a year old. I've waited months for them to be assessed by a veterinary ophthalmologist from Florida, who travels here during summer months and sees veterinary patients. They were seen today. One of sprites' cataracts is being reabsorbed by the body, which according to this expert happens when cataracts develop early. That is the good news. The bad news is that the body reacts to the reabsorption by causing inflammation in the eye, which inevitably leads to glaucoma and may also lead to retinal detachment. Glaucoma is a painful condition and leads to total blindness. Fortunately, she does not have any inflammation yet, but he stated it is just a matter of time before it develops. Fortunately, there is a prophylactic treatment available - daily eye drops for the rest of their lives. The eye drop medication is Voltaren OP 0.1% (Diclofenac Sod. 0.1%), in their case, one drop per eye, once a day - for the rest of their lives. Some Ohio rescues have developed cataracts because of the mink diet they were fed (Fox, 2nd ed, 1998), which exacerbates a probable genetic predisposition to cataracts. If you have one of these little ones make certain to have her/him assessed by a veterinary ophthalmologist before glaucoma can develop. Tressie A. Dutchyn, PhD (c) Dalhousie University Research Project Coordinator Community Health & Epidemiology http://port.mcgill.ca/dutchyn.htm [Posted in FML 6040]