Hello, all. Does anyone have any hard data from trained and unbiased observers about the timing of ferret dietary preferences or is it a case of an assumption (perhaps a common one, or perhaps not) being accepted without study? I ask mainly because of two reasons: 1. In the wild part of the diets of our guys' several wild cousins is seasonal and does not fall within the earliest months of most of the individuals' lives, and 2. Our ferrets have consistently continued to learn new foods throughout their lives, and some of them were especially picky in the early months and didn't broaden their tastes until they were at least 5 months old or older. Within humans this is common and is thought to possibly be so due to a stronger ability to taste during the early years. Had some great snort contests here last night. Many newcomers ask about sneezing, snorting, and face washing. Here's a tip: put your nose behind the ferret's ear and get it to snort or sneeze powerfully (You can do this by repeatedly running your cupped hand down the ferret's head from ears to nose in an imitation of adolescent and adult face washing among ferrets, and after a while the critter will lick your hand and finally either sneeze or snort.) Did you get that whiff of musk? Behind the ears are more scent glands which are used in territorial marking, and the sneeze or snort causes more pressure on the glands which results in a greater release. (Don't confuse these with illness sneezes and coughs -- a great reason to keep el cheapo stethoscopes which you can get for around $10 a pop around ) hence a more effective marking. Many of us enjoy the smell, and ferrets certainly seem to. We once had one who was genetically scentless and her self-esteem had to be regularly reinforced with a perfume which she adopted as her scent (and which would COMPLETELY end any dominance challenges she met. Last night's snorting contest began because I changed my neck brace (recognized among our current 5 and their predecessors as an object of great "value") so each one had to lay claim to it. I've put together a list of about 50 reputable zoological parks which should have small mammal curators who can provide information on diseases they have regularly seen among their mustelids, including cancer rates. Unfortunately, I've been down with a respitory infection so getting the needed postal cards is on hold for a week or 2 more until I'm no longer contagious. Chris, we also have thought of sending a check, in fact, one was written and waiting for correct postage when you said to not do so. We voided it. Now that you know that there are net members willing to help out is it possible that a collection at a given time could be entered as one item and those become a more acceptable alternative? [See above.] Our vet who did a specialization in ferrets told us that it is now being considered that some females who lose hair years after being spayed may have a problem with their low rates of estrogen and that some in a preliminary trial have been helped with supplemental hormones. Of course, hair lose can be anything from dry skin to adenocarcinoma of adrenal so it is something for which it pays to be sure first that the symptoms and findings do not match anything serious. Our dear furrys have been very upset that they have been unable to kiss me during my illness. They are so very affectionate that not being able to lavish their love upon me is being treated by them as a major deprivation. Does anyone else out there have a bombardier ? 'Chopper is our first who does that. It began when Meltdown was working so hard to let her know who was boss and would over-do it. 'Choppy climbs up anything with items on top, waits for the victim to pass below (There's intention here -- she never bombed Hjalmar.) , slides an item to the edge, as she gets the target in sight and then lets it drop. Bang! You wouldn't believe how many things have to now be locked away. Of 10 we have had 3 climbers, but only one who bombs. At least she uses different items than some primates I used to know. (Can you say "Yech"? One good guess what happened to Steve when he first met Maynard, one of the chimps I used to work with.) You know those cartoons where a face keeps bouncing into sight above a high barrier? Meeteetse does that so much that we sometimes wonder if she should have been named "Jimminy". Recently talked with a young woman who had ferrets years ago. One she had spayed as soon as she took her into her family immediately after weaning and the other was found young and spayed soon after. The first lived to be 14. The second was 14 or a bit older at death. Neither received any fancy treatment. We have now heard of a number of ferrets who were spayed or altered very young, either as convenience kits or by arrangement of owners who made it to 10 or above. This fits with what many vets have said -- that there seem to be problems with inbreeding, and perhaps with exposure to predisposers such as certain viruses. (By the way, did anyone else notice the recent "herpes in Alaskan otters" controversy?) Meltdown gets a professional toothcleaning in few days -- she's prone to plaque beyond what we can get off and appears to have a decaying molar. Will have her CBC done then, too, since she's over 4 and 1/2. BTW, many ferrets will hold the deciduous canine for a while after the permanent one has erupted to around an equal length, hence the appearance of "double canines. If the roots of the baby teeth become trapped between erupting adult roots and get stuck a tiny bit of forceps work will easily remove the offenders. We all see human kids who do the same thing with incisors. Many thanks to the person who noted that dyes in foods are sometimes the causes of persistent rug stains and that a change of foods solved the problem for that family. Our best to all, Sukie, Steve (in the other room), Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper the furry helicopter, Spot who has none, and Meeteetse (in two big cages), Tandy, Haleakala, Helix, Fritter, and Hjalmar (in our hearts and memories), Harley (the waif for whom we recently found a home), and the other ferrets we have known through the years [Posted in FML issue 0457]