OK Gagd...there's the Good News and the not so good news... I'll start off with the good news: Except for the non\intrusive dissolution of one stubborn blood clot that gave us an uneasy moment, the skin folds and wraps on each leg are sealing and clean of any tissue degeneration or infection... Whew...we had to work so fast we hardly dared to hope we wouldn't have at least some correction, and possible resection and reclosure, to do - but everything looks very neat and tight. He has stopped losing and has gained 1/2 half ounce over post surgical wt. Now taking into account he was emaciated, dehydrated, and very stunted to begin with and considering tissue and bone loss - I still thought he looked awful llttle - but he has begun to gain and I am hoping he will still grow some more with proper food and care. However even with the slight gain over post surg. wt he still is just shy of one pound. and this is a male Mitts 8-10 months old. His color is good and gums are pinking up nicely. He is drinking and today crunched up a little ferret diet and devoured two yogurt treats and 2 yogurt covered raisins...the yogurt is helping the tummy side effects of the antibiotic part of the meds. Elimination is nearly normal now that all the grass and weeds are finally flushed thru his digestive tract. And the oil gavage has passed the parasites thru as well so as soon as he is strong enough he will get a worm med to be sure nothing remains resident. Ear parasites are eradicated. The two fox tails have been removed and the infections are cured (both were located 'under' the left front 'arm'). He is in no undue pain and his strenth is rapidly returning to what could be considered normal for a ferret in his starved sand rundown condition... Eyes are bright and alert and awake time is increasing rapidly to longer and longer periods. He has started to take an interest in his surroundings and the activities of various other critters with whom he shares living quarters... And there in lies the crunch - Not so good news... I will relate this in another post... after I get my act together... sorry it's been a difficult few hours... dayna dayna frazier 102046,3162 "Worry is the interest we pay on the trouble we borrow!" [Posted in FML issue 1566]