Hi all, we haven't been on for a while so I'd better give an up-date. Hjalmar has almost died a few times recently because of Cushings complications. The first was 2 months ago and was sepsis (with Cushings the resistance to disease goes way down). The last 2 happened less than a week ago and then again on Sunday. The first was probably an Addison's crisis but we are not sure, and the cause of the second is also up in the air. Basically once an animal is in shock or the liver and spleen are so enlarged that a blood vessel bursts it is pretty hard to pin which of several possibilities is the immediate problem. Today some very important progress was made: the causes (yes, plural) of his Cushings were discovered. He has masses in BOTH adrenal glands which are now large enough to image on ultra- sound. This means that removing the adrenals is now an option. Wish Hjalmar well -- He's over 7 and has been Cushingoid for 11 months now, but he's going to have both adrenal glands and possibly his spleen out on Friday. The vet has an excellent track record -- He trained both at the AMC and with Jeglum and he has not yet lost one to an adrenal op. (Of course, the others were a lot younger. It's just recently with C-Lysodren being tested in ferrets with Cushings without a visible tumor that this survivability in such a situation has become possible.) The good news is that many ferrets without adrenal glands cope well without medication. The bad news is that he probably would not survive one or two more episodes of shock or hemmorage so there's no real choice but the national survival rate for this op is 80%. Fortunately, he LOVES going to the vet and will run to his carry cage when he hears that he's going. He flirts with all the women there (He always did but his C-L makes him so down-right randy that he out- does everyone but Pepy L'Pu). Between his rolly-polly doll shape, his almost complete baldness from the chest down and his bald head he really makes a very humourous harem owner. He just KNOWS how desirable he is, and frankly he's a real favorite there with vets and techs rushing out before we can get out the door so they can pat him just once more before he goes or give him just a bit more Nutrical on their finger tips. This guy must be the Woody Allen of ferrets. When he's gone the other 3 search for him everywhere and he's guaranteed loads of kisses whenever he returns. The others are doing well. The friend we posted about last year who had 2 ferrets then 8 and 9 years old just lost the older one to old age. She was comatose but when "Mommy" picked her up she regained consciousness, lifted her head, shared a kiss, put down her head and just passed away. (This was one of the older convenience ferrets we knew about.). Meltdown opens zippers now. We have to watch any soft luggage or satchels or she will open them and climb in. We finally gave up on the bathtub plug with had a screw on knob. She unscrewed and hid the knob so many times that replacing it killed the plug. We were sorry to hear about the little one who died of rubber in her gut. Recently Meltdown had a terrible fur ball which we were luckily able to get her to pass. Because the become dehydrated and go into electrolyte imbalance so fast the rule of thumb is that you have only a 24 hour window or they will probably be lost to either the blockage or to those 2 problems. Sometimes 48 hours is possible but it becomes extremely less likely that one will survive then. By the way, Hjalmar now gets about 1/4 or more of Brewer's yeast each day and has never had an insulinoma (We have had the pancreas ultra- sounded.) so the hypothesis that chromium lacking in US ferret diets may have some support if there are enough ferrets 6 or over who have been on yeast and not developed the problem. Anyone else out there with personal data which may shed a bit of light? Our's love Schiff in water as a sort of soup. 'Chopper (Helicopter) was recently caught 6 1/2 feet up a wall. She had climbed a chair and gone from it's back on to the first of a series of sketches on the wall then simply climbed from one to another. Our best to all. We have been reading you even though we haven't posted in a while. Love (or like?) from: Sukie, Steve, Hjalmar, Meltdown, and 'Choppy (yes, we've known some of you long enough and well enough, and been helped enough by you that a sentimental old lady should be able to sign as with a letter.) [Old? Nah! BTW: that card was stunning. Thank you.] [Posted in FML issue 0342]