Hello - thank you to all those who have written over the past few months asking if I was still around and other questions. I have not been posting recently because of schedule. Between work and a very busy breeding season (as in too busy), haven't had a lot of time. Also - receive so much e-mail every day it is difficult to keep up. My pc is kept at work and I have only had chance to "get to it" two or three days a week - which makes it harder. As to answering questions - with the good doctors monitoring these pages and others with so much knowledge -- well, simply not needed. Also, by the time I get to FML, most questions answered or I haven't a clue as to what the answer should be anyway! And I confess, haven't been keeping up with FML because of schedule. However, just recently got a notebook, so may be able to pick up my mail faster. Was reminded of some things over the Labor Day weekend with several emergency phone calls for nursing care advice - most vets took a chance to take well deserved breaks - and so please know that I am available 24 hours a day for care advice. My telephone number is 703-765-4353. Or e-mail me and I will honestly try to answer faster. But also remember that if you are worried about your ferret, and it is possible, get to vet asap and ask questions later! For those who requested - I will try to write a silly ferret adventure story soon - devils have been up to a lot. We had a great deal more kits this season than I had originally planned for or anticipated. My jills have not been following the schedule posted on the wall which calls for them to come in season throughout the year and produce less babies! Our largest litter was 13 and our smallest was 7. Our first litter was born in early March and we have continued right on through with most recent litter born 5 weeks ago. Fortunately, all have gone to good homes and some have traveled to various states - except for the kits I decided to keep (sigh). Pretty much cured of "Kit Rapture Syndrome" for this year. Current litter of 8 kits all have homes with exception of three - and two of those have "holds" on them until they can be seen. Season not without its trials, however, as we had two cases of necrotic mastitis - our first. Both jills required immediate intervention surgery and reconstruction. Both jills developed mastitis when kits were 3 weeks of age. Both jills continued to nurse their kits following surgery. I am in the process of writing an article on anatomy of the mammary glands, lactation and milk production process, nursing problems and managment of same. Dr. Jean Wardell did the first surgery, and Dr. Tom Kawasaki the second. Dr Wardell will be reporting on these cases and management-care protocol worked out on same. Which brings me to comment - Bob - I am so sorry to learn of your troubles, and I grieve for your loss of Gus. I hope this finds your ferrets recovering. I, like you, keep a large group of ferrets out most of the time, which makes for an interesting study of on-going ferret dynamics. Usually have everyone out except for breeding hobs, jills in season, in confinement waiting for or with kits. For those who were shocked or upset that Bob did a necropsy on a beloved pet - please know that many of us around here (Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area) do very frequently go into surgery with our ferrets. This, of course, is not for everyone. But Dr. Kawasaki and others have long permitted patients owners to accompany into surgery -- and sometimes we even assist if it is an after-hours emergency! Tom is great about this. I don't know, you just sort of slip into another mode in surgery and most who want to do it, can handle it without any problem. This is not to say that we are cold or un-feeling. But have a strong wish to stay with our ferrets and participate in their care. Also, we stay close while the ferret is being stabalized and monitored following surgery, and usually take our babies home for nursing when they are stable. This practice of taking home ferrets soon after surgery, however, should be done only by those who feel confident and able to handle post-op management. No doctor will let a ferret go home unless he/she feels the ferret is going to be o.k. Cheers, Meg. Oh - nearly forgot - by request - I will sign off on my ferrets names and colors - Sgt. Pepper, medium silver; Sparky a.k.a. Pluggy, sable mitt; The Princess Tiger Lilly, chocolate mitt; Von Schokolade, chocolate; Black Hawk, black; Beau Geste, Blaze; Jussy, black; Sugar Baby a.k.a. Grumpy, cinnamon; Kaitlyn, black; My Black Sin, black; Alicia, heavy silver; Honey Suckle Rose, panda; Black Molly, black; Black Magic; black; Sweet Pea, blaze; Passion Flower, heavy silver; Betty Boop, black; Anabella, black sable mitt; and soon to arrive - Dierdre, albino & Cara, cinnamon mitt. One baby in current litter keeping but not yet named, but looks like will be a black mitt or sable mitt. Think that is everyone - m. [Posted in FML issue 1693]