Dear All, As a ferret owner and shelter op, I've had to make mercy decisions far more times than I care to recall. What disturbs me are the many phone calls and emails I receive from loving ferret owners, confused and pained, asking when to make the decision for mercy. My heart breaks with each one, and I try to help them make the right decision for that moment in time. This is a very general blanket statement, but I'd like to say that so many vets fail in this area. They give a diagnosis of a terminal condition, whether it be adrenal, insulinoma, lymphoma or whatever, and send the family and patient home with meds and instructions, and that's all. What's missing is the barometer of the quality of life. It can be a very upsetting moment in the vet's office when you're told that your pet is terminally ill. If possible, even if not at that moment but later, ask your vet for thresholds of the decline of their life. This will help you in deciding when to make a mercy call. Discuss at what point pain sets in, and ask that your vet provide you with appropriate pain meds. Many will say that your ferret will tell you when, but that's just not always the case. These animals love and cherish us, and often do not want to leave, and will be stoic to the end. They have an incredible capacity to hide pain! This barometer of quality of life can be, but not limited to: Weight loss within a week, food intake, refusal to eat, systemic failures such as hind leg weakness, vomiting, dehydration, renal failure, and so much more. Each disease will bring it's own specific set of issues of quality of life as it declines. Ask, prepare yourself for assisting in supportive care and mercy. Have your vet early on, be your asset in helping to determine when to say when. We all have or will experience this, and share the pain of such a decision of mercy. Peace, comfort and strength to you all, Barb Clay Dir of Shelter Affairs for Rocky's www.rockysferrets.com [Posted in FML 6211]