Hello fellow Ferret Mayhem Lovers (FML get it hehee), I've been lurking on the FML for about 1 1/2 now. I think it's time for an introduction. This may be a little long, but I have a couple of stories and some ?'s to ask so please "ferret" with me. My name is Laura, two and a half years ago, I was adopted by my first ferret... her name is Shaunta' (pronounced Shawn tay). She is a MF ferret. She and I have been through some good and bad times. First when she was about 1 year old I learned what ferret proofing "really" was(n't). I lived in a one bedroom apartment and thought she was safe, I took all of the necessary precautions (I thought). Then one day I couldn't find my little Shaunta'. Where could she be???? I put up fliers throughout my apartment complex. 1 week passed I still had hope, two weeks passed I was starting to give up, three weeks passed I knew for sure she was gone. Either she found a new home or the worst had happened (I really LOVE her). That weekend I had my apartment bombed for fleas. Two days later I heard this hissing coming from the kitchen, I listened... I thought it can't be. I sat back and started watching TV. I heard it again, I had to get up and look... I walked into the kitchen and there was my cat (CJ), standing over my little girl, who weighed less that an ounce at this point. She was dehydrated and malnourished, not to mention probably had toxemia (from the flea foggers). I rushed her to the 24hr emergency Vets, she was given subcutaneous (sp?) fluid injections, and sent home with me (I could not afford to leave her overnight). I took her home, and kept her on a Pedialite/Nutri-cal diet for a couple of days. After that she started eating on her own, I kept her on the Pedialite/Nutri-cal for the next month, she recovered amazingly. She still only weighs about 1 1/2 pounds (is that normal for a female?). Thank God for Prayers answered!!!!!!!! Now FERRET MATH comes into play... On July 17th I was once again adopted. By a little boy, who was six weeks old at the time. His name is Sasha' (pronounced Sash ay). When I brought him home Shaunta' was a little skeptic, she's somewhat of a loner. Two days after I got him Shaunta' started having very mucousy (sp?) green diarrhea (at this point the baby showed no symptoms), she started getting very lethargic so I took her to the 24hr vet again, he checked for intestinal blockage ran a fecal floation it was negative for coccidia and parasite ova. The vet put her on 0.5ml of Cloramphenical 2 per day/2wks, I kept her on that until 8/5 when she seemed to take a turn for the worst. I took her to another vet right away he checked for the same things the Emergency Vet checked for ran the same test, also checked for intestinal blockage and I asked him about ECE, he didn't seem to think that was the problem. He also checked the baby and he checked out fine. He took a sterile stool sample (from Shaunta') and sent it off to a lab for testing. I took Shaunta' home she vomited and seemed to get even worse, I went out and got some more Pedialite and some chicken, lamb baby foods. I had to hand feed my baby 3tx a day for 1wk. until the Vet got some results back from the lab... apparently Shaunta' had (VETS help me out??) PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA has anyone heard of this in ferrets? Is it life threatening?? Is it contagious??? She was given 3 baytrill x 3 days (1 a day) shots and then an oral mixture of 50% Baytrill 50% dextrose to be given 1 a day for about 3 weeks. She seems to have improved, but she still hasn't gained "ANY" weight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. The baby is doing great, no signs or symptoms of anything. I am having a hard time litter training him though. Once again FERRET MATH comes into play (I keep telling myself "Two isn't any harder to take care of than one, three isn't any harder to take care of than two...)... On September 6th, there was an add for a free ferret, apparently this families son was returning to High School and could (or wouldn't) no longer care for the little guy, so guess what??? Monday September 9th I went over to meet him (Malive) and his family. He's a Gorgeous chocolate MF he is approximately 4 years old. He was very gentle and seems to be well cared for other that when I got there he was outside (I live in Florida and it was about 5:00pm) it was still pretty warm. I also noticed on the way home his skin was a little flaky (they had just bathed him), I wondered if maybe they bathed him too often. Anyway we got home I introduced them all slowly, no territory fighting at all, but my so was there and the new guy was climbing up his shirt sleeve, I thought that was cute until he nipped him. Then I though it was hysterical, until Mal came over to me. I was laying on my stomach on the floor watching them do the ritual (sniff). Anyway, Mal started smelling me and then he got to the back of my knee, you know the REAL sensitive part... CHOMP, he drew blood. Then again later on my arm, didn't quite draw blood that time but he certainly left teeth marks. Does anyone know why he would do such a thing?? Well I've written enough for my own edition of the FML (BIG Please forgive me:) ) Any questions or answers, please feel free to email me direct at [log in to unmask] or through the FML. Thanks for your ears (eyes) and time, Laura, Shaunta' (Awe mom, I was happy when it was just u and me) Sashay' (Let me at 'em... let me at 'em) Malive (Hey lady, you sure do taste good) CJ... The cat (I can't get any sleep around here) Ishmale... The fish-male (Hey, keep those things away from me!!!) [Posted in FML issue 1689]