Hi all! In response to Debbie Riccio's statement that her kits still have maternal antibody at 6 weeks of age because they are allowed to ween when the jill is ready... I'm not sure about ferrets, but I believe most animals lose the ability to absorb immunoglobulins (maternal antibody) shortly after birth. I know that large animals (horses and cattle) can only have good passive transfer of maternal antibody within the first day of life -- mostly within the first six hours. Again, I'm not sure what the time period is for carnivores. Anyhow, I believe that carnivores in general receive some immunity prior to birth and the colostrum adds to it. Anybody out there know? Somebody asked way back when about an enlarged adrenal gland that was taken out of their ferret and asked why the histology came back normal. Hyperplasia refers to any tissue that is increased in size, but is normal structurally. A hyperplastic adrenal gland causes problems sometimes by producing too much hormone (it has more secretory tissue). Neoplasia (cancer) is the unregulated division of cells (something goes haywire and the cells decide to have a party with unregulated mitosis -- they don't know when to stop). A neoplastic adrenal gland would have lost its normal architecture and cellular structure. Hope this helps. About Pugsley: We have a blood donor ferret at our vet school (WSU), Pugsley. He's a big sable (I mean HUGE -- well maybe not that big, but compared to my two little girls he is). He likes to get into trouble and has an iron grip, especially on leather, that can only be released by bribery with a marshmallow. He lives at the school in the exotics ward with lots of vet students to keep him entertained. He also seems to like the raptors...but that's a different story. Lisa and Noah Daisy -- the spastic one Squirt -- zzzzzzzzzzz.... [Posted in FML issue 1615]