To Sue Kocher: Yuck.....I just read a story on the Boxer Mailing List where someone's boxer ate a huge bug and then started drooling, and vomited the thing up alive...(pt-u-ee). I'm sure the bugs of today leave a lot to be desired, what with all the pesticides and such being sprayed everywhere. Probably not a healthy, first-choice snack. But the ferrets/dogs don't know that - in the wild (not to imply that ferrets are) bugs are somewhat of a staple, but I agree with you - eating "city" (or shall we call them domesticated?) bugs probably shouldn't be encouraged. To Kathleen Cheeseman: I have to agree with you on the reaction to the use of Tribrissen. Not to undermind anyone's situation or problem - when it hits someone personally, it becomes hard to be objective about any drug involved in any given situation. Your analogy of penicillen is a good example. Why, even when using chloramphenicol, the label warns the handler to wear gloves as the drug can apparently be absorbed through the skin and affect bone marrow production, if I remember correctly (Dr Williams please correct me if I got that wrong) - and yet it has its place in vet medicine. Several years ago I was given Demerol following surgery, and it took about 1 1/2 days for them to realize I was allergic to it. Once they switched to a different med, the rash cleared up and I stopped vomiting. Sometimes you just don't know until after you've tried it. To the poster asking about clumping litter: It's not that ferrets intentionally eat this stuff, but that it can be ingested as they clean (lick) themselves. The swallowed particles apparently collect in the stomach/intestines and have been known to cause blockages and extreme dehydration - this has been reported from at least one cattery in CA, whose problems immediately resolved once they stopped using the clumping litter. Debbie Riccio WNYFLFA Rochester, NY [Posted in FML issue 1274]