Lonny, I'm curious as to exactly where it "came to your attention a few years ago that mineral oil is readily absorbed through the skin, and also the digestive tract". There is a tremendous amount of misinformation on the internet. I would not recommend frequent oral usage of either mineral oil or petroleum jelly (more than 2-3 days in a row, or more than once a week), not because they are absorbed but because they coat the digestive tract and can inhibit absorption of nutrients. However, they have a long history of SAFE use as a laxative for occasional constipation in both humans and animals. Because they stay in the digestive tract (GI absorption is generally less than 2%) they provide lubrication and also block some water absorption, making stool wetter, lubricated and easier to pass. So giving a ferret a dose of laxatone or Vaseline once a week during shedding season to ensure passage of ingested hair is quite safe unless your ferret already has digestive issues that could be aggravated. As for skin absorption, the reason *refined* (meaning, contaminants removed) petroleum products are commonly used on the skin is because they are *not* absorbed; instead, they sit on the skin and create a barrier that prevents loss of moisture. WHO classifying "mineral oil" as a class 1 carcinogen is a bit of a misnomer, as WHO lumps a large range of non-refined and minimally refined liquid petroleum products into the general category of "mineral oils". Some of these products are branch-chained or aromatic and are indeed quite dangerous. However, heavily refined White Mineral Oil and White petrolatum do not contain these components and are generally safe for topical use and for occasional oral use as a laxative, in both ferrets and human beings. Melissa M. Bell, PharmD, RPh [Posted in FML 7544]