How much pred can get a ferret into serious trouble, or even prove fatal will depend both on dose and on how extreme the diabetes is. Some ferrets begin diabetes with extreme cases while others begin with mild ones. BTW, the for others who did not know, the difference between Prednisolone and Prednisone: Prednisolone is the form which can be utilized by the body. How does Prednisone get altered to Prednisolone so that the body can utilize it? The liver does that. What happens if the liver is at all compromised? There is reduced conversion so the Prednisone might be partially or even largely ineffective. Can this happen if the liver is just swollen (which can happen even secondary to the pancreas having problems, IBD, a large fur ball being in the stomach, or some other health difficulties)? Yes. That is why most vets who are used to ferrets tend to give Prednisolone rather than Prednisone. If possible (and I do realize that it is not always possible), it is always best to have a blood test done to make sure that the blood sugar is down rather than up before giving Pred in case there is diabetes. (If the ferret perks up with sugar on the gums that makes diabetes less likely.) Diabetes is NOT very often seen in ferrets but it does happen. Taking a ferret's blood sugar at home is also possible and info on this is in the archives of both the FML and the FHL. You can find the addresses of the FML Archives in the header of each day's FML and in my sig lines, and the separate addresses of the FHL Archives and the FHL in my sig lines. Ferrets vary some in how easily blood testing can be done at home. Some clot too danged fast. (Actually, not long ago there was actually a veterinary article on that propensity in ferrets.) Two other pretty common considerations for ferrets before giving Pred: 1. Is there heart disease? Pred can be hard on a diseased heart but sometimes there is just no choice. 2. Is there an ulcer? Pred can worsen ulcers. Always give Pred with food and those who have ulcers should have Carafate (which comes in a liquid prep by prescription at any pharmacy, or from some vets) about a half hour before food or meds. (Never give Carafate close to meds or it can coat some which will make them ineffective. There are some meds it should not be given with at all so read up on it on-line. Give Carafate before food and then give it time to settle into the injured areas and act as a "bandage" before giving food.) Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html "All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow." (2010, Steve Crandall) [Posted in FML 7041]