Hi Everyone I don't post much, but I would like to respond to the Des conversation, I live in Holland and am one of the people who had their ferrets implanted for the research for Dr Nico Schoemaker as an alterative to castration. My ferrets will be seven in Augustus, they have had three implants and not had any problems. But what everyone seems to have forgotten is that this is still an experiment and it will take a few more years to be sure that this is safe. I know of one person here who's ferret had liver problems, he was a kit when he got the implant, the liver problems stared soon after, was this from the implant? the vet didn't think so, but his owner suspected it might be, after a year she had it removed and half a year later his liver problems were also as good as gone, was this due to the removal of the implant or good veterinary treatment, we will not know until more cases have been documented. There is still to much unknown, there is still a lot we need to take into consideration. Not all people respond the same to treatment, so logically also ferrets can respond differently. Has no one thought of a mistake? Ardith did say that the implant had a different packing and the needles were bigger, these implants are also made for horses, people do make mistakes, maybe the wrong label was put on the package, we will not know if everyone just suspects that there might be something wrong but says nothing, I for one was very happy that Ardith posted about what happened to her ferrets and I have sent a copy of her post to several vets in Holland that work with the implant, and as one vet said, we have not had any problems yet, but is good to have this sort of information if we do see problems. I would rather be safe than sorry and if I race to the vet and say, something is wrong please remove the implant now, I would like them to know why I want it removed without being told I am panicking for nothing. I might be, but that's my prerogative. Ardith Thank you, I grieve for your los and will watch my ferrets double when they get the next implant. Stephenie [Posted in FML 7417]