to: James Cristea <> Subject: Cody Diagnosis-The Bad News! >>It makes sense now since Cody has been absolutely craving Cheerios and raisins (good sugar!). He now gets Karo syrup in his water bottle.<< NO! Not in the water bottle - it will clog the ball actiona dn he will get NO water!!! Put Karo and water in a bowl. Give him Nutrical three times a day. Add brewer's Yeast to his dry food. Try Duck soup (check FAQ for recipe) >>Prognosis: Surgery recommended to remove both tumors. (At a cost of about $800).<< If you are onthe east coast - we can find a vet able to do it for less.... >>I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had this surgery and what the outcome and longevity of the ferret was afterwards.<< I have chosen this route several times for my ferrets. One adoptee (history unknown) passed away six months after the surgery. Two of my pets died a year after surgery (one at 8 years of age, one at 7 years), and I still have a little girl going strong at almost eight years of age and she had the surgery over a year and a half ago. This might sound strange, but this is my recommendation - put the ferret on proglycem for the 2-3 months that the bottle will last (this medication costs close to $100 for one bottle). Allow the ferret's system to stabelize. When the bottle is almost gone - schedule surgery and have the operation. The longest I have heard of a ferret surviving after the surgery was two years (Amy's Ian). Ferrets will not survive the surgery a second time, so must be put back on medication or allowed to go to the rainbow bridge. I think the regime outlined above has brought me and others the best amount of time and success. Pam / STAR* [Posted in FML issue 1208]