Brian, Someone (Fara, I think???) said there is a possibility that Linatone may cause cancer in ferrets. She uses Mira Coat (sp? I haven't been able to find it around here...) instead. (Fara, I hope you step in here. I know I munged that. :-( ) Ferretone actually has *MORE* of the fat soluble vitamins than does Linatone. I can't believe the dosage that they printed on the label, 2 pumps daily is *MUCH* too much!!! Sounds to me like someone's trying to pull a profit at the expense of some helpless animals.... But, there are some ingredients in Ferretone that aren't in Linatone. At this point there's not a whole lot known about what's best for ferrets. The are relatively new to the "pet" scene, so who's to say which is really better for our little guys. Personally, right now I'm using Ferretone. As soon as I can find (and afford) it, I'll get some Mira Coat and try that. I give them about 1/3 to 1/2 a pump twice a week. Fara, I absolutely *ADORE* the poem in the last WHM!!! It's a perfect description of a ferret's routine!!! And the issue looks fabulous!! You guys are doing a great job out there!! Keep up the good work. Cindy, Thanks for your concern about my sister. It is very much appreciated! About your albino ferret. I would suggest getting a ferret shampoo made especially for removing the yellow oil stains from white ferret's coats. (It's non-bleaching, so you can use it on any light colored ferret.) White & Brite Shampoo $6.99 12 oz (They also have a really good flea shampoo, if anyone's interested) FerretStuff PO Box 65125 Virginia Beach, VA 23464 (804) 479 - 4989 ShoSno Whitener Shampoo $6.00 12 oz Ferret Fair 237 S. Lincoln Westmont, IL 60559 And here's a great ferret cream rinse, I use it on mine each time I give them a bath: Ferret Cream Rinse $3.95 6 oz FerretWorld 6 Water Street Box 555 Assonet, MA 02702 (508) 644 - 2728 All three have catalogs you can request. Another thing to note about discoloration, although it doesn't sound like this is the case with Polar Bear. If you are feeding your ferret anything that has dyes in it, they may come out in the ferret's coat (very often a problem with "grocery store" cat foods, which we all know we shouldn't be using anyway, right??? :-) ) So if your ferret has an unusual reddish color, you may want to try changing diet. At our last club meeting there was a family there who had been feeding their ferrets food like that. The ferrets all had a rust colored underfur, and the guard hairs were darker as well. It was amazing how dramatic a difference diet can make. (A little yellowing on an albino isn't cause for alarm, though. That's just a "ferret thing", no need to go changing the diet.) Don't worry about getting your ferret's head wet. Actually, the water probably helps keep the ears clear of wax. I would avoid getting shampoo in the ferret's eyes, though. Even if it is tearless. I agree with Chris. No need to be overly gentle. I just give mine a quick dry in the towel, then let them race around the bathroom with a few towels on the floor. They dry themselves off nicely. After they wear themselves out (usually at a slightly damp stage), I just make sure they have a nice dry place to cuddle up and go to sleep. If he likes to sleep burrowed in a towel, it will warm up quickly enough with his body heat, and he'll be just fine. - Nancy Nancy Hartman CIS graduate student [log in to unmask] U. of Delaware President and founder, Delaware Valley Ferret Club Owner of Percy & Bree [Posted in FML 0178]