Kevin, Spring has sprung here in New England too, although we haven't taken any of our crew out to the lakes and ocean yet. It sounds like the German's have one up on many of the people here. When we do take ours out, about 20% of the people still ask me "What are those?" Oh well, they've only been "legal" here for a little less than 4 years, and in Germany for a few hundred thousand <G>. Jon, Please talk your wife out of declawing your ferret. Their claws are like the ends of your fingers or your toes. They need them for grasping and for walking. A declawed ferret is a crippled ferret in my opinion. I'm sure many vets wouldn't even do the operation. Gizzie is just a little kit who has a lot of learning to do. Your job as a new ferret parent is to teach her acceptable behavior. If you are consistent with discipline and loving, she will settle down as she gets older. Please, please don't declaw her. Ferretone is a fatty oil high in vitamin A. Most ferrets love it. It can be used as a training aid. A little on you hand or finger when she does something you want to reinforce. Like, hold her on your terms. Don't let her down no matter how much she wriggles and squirms. Eventually she'll give a big sigh and relax. That's the time to give her a small reward of ferretone. As she grows older, you'll find that she will then love to be picked up and held. Don't follow the directions on the bottle and put it on her food. Use it sparingly, only offered on your hand as a reward, or a drop or two on her abdomen when you need to clip her nails. Adrenal tumors are all too common in ferrets. When one developes the tumor and adrenal gland must be removed. Symptoms are usually, in a female ferret, swollen vulva and, in about 85% of the cases, hair loss beginning at the base of the tail, spreading up the flanks and abdomen. What the adrenal operation does is removes a potentially maligant tumor. Do download the ferret FAQs as described at the beginning of each FML. It contains a wealth of information on training and ferret care. Also frequent the postings here and ask as many questions as you can. Most people here are quite friendly and willing to help. Kevin RE: Seedy stools The seedy stools are not that uncommon and indicate a more rapid than usual passage of food through the gut. The "seeds" are bits of undigested food. It's often caused by stress, and an operation is certainly stressful. Keep an eye on him. If you are concerned, contact the vet that did the operation. The diarrhea should clear in a day or two. Dehydration is the biggest danger usually. Keep him well hydrated. Scruff him and see if the skin quickly returns to normal. If it stays scruffed, he's dehydrated and needs to be rehydrated as quickly as possible. Use an eyedropper and dribble water in the corner of his mouth between teeth and gums, and call a vet right away. A 1/3 - 1/2 cc dose of Kaopectate or Pepto Bismol given 3-4 times a day will usually help firm the stool, but do contact your vet before giving him anything. S/he will give you the dosage appropriate to the weight of your ferret. I am not a vet. Dick B. [Posted in FML issue 1547]