Ann, I expect you are seeing the damage of hard living to a large extent. As you know, we don't have experience with as many ferrets as you do, but have had 11 of our own through the years as well as some abused temporaries who we rehabed and then found homes for. Of those who lived extended periods with us 5 are deceased and three of those (pet store ferrets) made it to 9,7, or 8. Meltdown is from a breeder which sells to pet stores but never was in a pet store and she is now a very active six and a half year old. As the alpha she HAS to remain strong, active, and inventive. Just last week she came up with a new way to stop the fastest ferret this home has ever seen. When Warp annoys the others (often by facing one, then jumping over it lengthwise, waiting for it to turn, and repeating the feat, over and over, Meltdown will throw herself on the floor and roll into the baby's legs, sending her tumbling. How long have we had ferrets, anyway? We had them and had even lost one before we met Chris -- that was over 10 (11?) years ago, wasn't it, Chris, with something like 5 of us on the list? Anyway, our years with ferrets are in the teens. (Hi, Pat!) Warp had lived in two (2!) abusive homes before joining us. Unfortunately, we did something that we know better than to do and introduced her (4 days to full inclusion, the second best we've had) before her complete medical so then we had all 6 on albon for coccidea for 3 weeks. Yipes! We got it down to less than a minute per, though. What we did was scruff, smear a bit of Nutrical on the top of the nose close to a nostril so everything tasted like it and wild licking began, then just shot the stuff in the side of the mouth. Piece of cake. Warp has now graduated from play digging of food and most anything, to focused digging of door barriers. (They grow up so fast!) Speaking of responsibility, here are some tips for those who are working to change laws and opinions. The highly effective gentleman from Michigan could tell you more. Having been in P.R. (and a bit of time on radio) I learned that it is always better to avoid anger, and instead present facts and cute stories, and it is always ESSENTIAL to say thank you. (Yes, we sent a thank you card to GMA and hope others did.) Here's an opinion we need to change. The BFF programs have suffered large cutbacks, and Newt Gingerich just called for them to be completely eliminated as a waste of cash. Writing Democrats representing you may have some effect, writing conservative or reactionary Republicans may have some effect. Perhaps the greatest impact can be made by those represented by moderate Republicans (considering current political stresses). Dwarf ferrets live with other stresses -- ones of the skeleton and cartilage. Jesse, your's is very likely just a very small one, but I suspect you confused midget with dwarf. One of our's (with several other medical compromises) is an acrondoplasic dwarf. She would remind you of a bodily cross between a skunk and a ferret, with an absolutely gorgeous face like a malamute puppy's, and a luxurious kit coat even though she will soon turn five. Her trunk is a normal to large size and broad rather than deep, her limbs are so stunted (like a dachund's) that she can't even wash her own face or keep her belly off the floor when she's chubby, and she's already showing arthritis, and gets backaches requiring daily massage. Her face is broad and shallow. Meltdown has never agreed to accept her and she is leery of all our current ferrets (This is complicated by her being retarded). On the other hand, once she learned that language meant something she acquired maybe 2 dozen words and has become very gentle (Life before was SO frustrating for her.), a great performer of tricks for treats, and a total joy. (It took her 3 years of consistency on our parts as opposed to almost immediate learning with the others, except 'Chop who is a bit deaf so needs floor slaps at times.) She accepts few people but fortunately loves her vet, Hanan Caine of Basking Ridge Animal Hospital who is an exotics specialist and probably the best veterinary surgeon with whom either of us has ever had experience. Chris, we have also seen each of those sleep behaviors. In addition, sleeping with eyes open has always been an inadvertent, occassional quirk of mine. From a human perspective I tend to wind what I see into a dream and it is going to be an unpleasant dream because moving, dry eyes HURT. Whether the same applies to another individual (let alone species) I don't know. BTW, I forgot to warn Steve beforehand. Hope all stay or become well and happy, Sukie, Steve, Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper (with too much bottom ballast to be our living helicopter since she's in the beautiful 3s), Spot, Meeteetse, and Warp P.S. Why were our ferrets the only ones mentioned in the Morris Animal Foundation Annual Report (or did I miss something)? [Posted in FML issue 1074]