I'm sorry we've been away for a while. Diane has been very ill lately, we couldn't even make it to the ferret show this weekend. I'm responding to today's digest. I'll go back and see if there is anything out of the past couple days I should respond to as well. >From: Shamrock McNeill <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: kits update, color ? again >Now for the color question-- i wrote ~3 weeks ago with a question about a >jill i saw at a renfest ... this jill ... looked like a DEW pattern that >had been dipped in clover honey. Probably a "stained" DEW pattern. Certain foods contain dyes that can "stain" ferrets. There used to be albinoes called "Tangerines" but they couldn't reproduce the color. Some believe the red sable and "true" cinnamon were "stained" chocolates. Chicken fat in food can cause yellow "staining" - this is one harmless side effect of "Totally Ferret" - I still recommend the food as the coloration is harmless. >From: Ernst Hadenfield <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: Food again You mentioned several things that don't match what we tend to believe in the US. We use Iam's and have not noticed ill effects. Never heard any comments about it having to much vitamin A. We also do not tend to give milk - soy or cow. Fifty years ago ferret ranches used graham soaked in milk but we don't do that any more. >From: "JEFF JOHNSTON, EPIDEMIOLOGY" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Vaccine reactions >The real acid test to study vaccine reactions would consist of a >randomized, controlled study of vaccines, preferably at the offices >of several veterinarians who see a lot ferrets. Since there are many questions about the data gathered by the Acme/STAR* survey this would be a very good idea. A survey based on limited polling of the members of a small portion of the ferret owners does not carry the same scientific credentials as a scientific survey of randomly selected ferrets. United Vaccine's Fervac-D did pass the USDA required testing that does include testing for reactions. It did pass the USDA requirements for effectiveness. Solvay's Galaxy-D has not been tested for safety or effectiveness in ferrets. United considers ferrets as a worthwhile market. Solvay does not. I will continue to advocate using products tested for ferrets. I will continue to support companies that support ferrets over companies that do not. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets http://userwww.qnet.com/~killian/zen_home.htm [Posted in FML issue 1539]