Hi y'all, I don't have much time, but I thought I'd throw in what I have learned about ferrets and allergies. My roommate in college had ferrets and at that time I had NO problem whatsoever with being allergic to them. When Mark and I moved into the apartment, we both wanted a pet but I knew my cat allergy would be a problem and there was definately not enough room for a dog. Mark kept talking about chinchillas, but then I showed him a ferret in a pet store and he fell in LOVE. We looked around at a few stores (we didn't know about the evils of pet stores then. I promise, we won't do it again), and Mark noticed that whenever I played with a ferret I would get red-itchy hives. I was in denial and told him I would acclimate to the little guys in no time. So we got them, and within a few months I had asthma. My doctor tells me that you can't be allergic to something you've never been in contact with before, so over the 5 years or so between the time I first lived with ferrets and the second, my body had time to record that ferret dander was a vile, evil, life-threatening substance that had to be expelled at any cost (silly body). Right now, the doctor has me on a cortazone inhaler that helps prevents problems and another inhaler to stop the asthma once an attack has come on. If I keep the guys out of the bedroom and keep the cage fairly clean I do better (and the air purifier in the bedroom helps a lot). And I think I do better when we wash the little guys more often, but we haven't seemed to get around to that for quite a few months, now (except when Gunther got into the fiberglass insulation under the stove), and there was all that talk about how its better not to give them baths . . . Actually today I have an appointment with the HMO doctor for the first time, and I am a little worried that they'll refuse to treat me since I could just get rid of the fuzzies and the problem will be gone. But since I believe the emotional benefits I get from them, out weigh any physical problems, I'm not letting them go. So, we'll see. Just a little personal news, Gunther has a big itchy bald spot on his butt and is very skinny (but has tons and tons of energy!). He's going back to the vet on Wednesday. Nico has the softest, lush-est, winter coat I have ever seen!!! She feels just like a rabbit and looks about 100% thicker than last summer. Her coat wasn't this nice last year. Are ferrets like fruit trees and some years are better than others? Ozzie actually slept in our laps New Year's Eve for almost 30 minutes!!! She woke up when we held her up to see the ball come down. She is becoming the sweetest little thing. AND, we just put in an offer on a house in Wilmington, DE. I dont know if we'll get it, but does anyone happen to know the legal status there? I figure I'll call the authorites and post what I find out. I've got to go, now. How can they expect me to work when I've got so much on my mind? They are so pushy around here. Norris (Mom) (for Mark (Dad), Gunther, Nico, and Ozzie (babies who may soon get their OWN room or at least stairs to play on!)) [Posted in FML issue 1098]