Hi fellow ferret-philes: You-all are wonderful !!!! Thanks to those who make the FML possible (you, too, BIG--tee hee) & everyone for sharing their knowledge, caring & experience. I learn : ) a lot : ) , I also LOL at the funny stories, find myself nodding in agreement or commiseration, & sob as I read about suffering fritters, & the rainbow bridge. If I start to feel disgusted with the dark side of humans, I read some FML & I believe there's still hope for homo sapiens. Anonymous Tom: My fritters (ferret + critter = fritter), for the most part, came to me as adults. And for the most part, didn' think nutrical or ferretone were anything to celebrate. They would sniff & reject. However, they were all (each & everyone) convinced after I touched their noses with the stuff & they had to lick it off -- feet didn't work, they'd just run off with a glob of nutrical stuck to their foot. Now they can't get enough & make my dogs very jealous (they love it, too). Charlene: Don't know that ear mites can get into the brain, but I do know that they can have serious consequences. I have an adoptee, Chaquita, who's head is permanently tilted to the side (she looks as if she's listening to every word you say with rapt attention). I was told that the most likely cause was a severe inner ear infection caused by an untreated ear mite infestation. We think she compensates by being a little nipper & picking on my little old lady, Isis, & Peanut, the newbie. She's alienated nearly all the critters in the household except Nin~a (her bathtub rompin' bud). Yes, she' s the epitome of bratiness & sasses me more that the others put together, but she's also my best cuddle bunny (now). [Don't know who came up with "cuddle bunny", but I love that expression & hope you don't mind my making it a part of my fritter vocab.] Christel ([log in to unmask]) Chaquita, Isis, Nin~a, Peanut, Simon & Tiki (the fritters) Elritze & Wilk (the Canine Peace Patrol) Zauber & Qwilla (the Feline Purr Patrol) & U.B. (the Ungrateful Budgie) [Posted in FML issue 1732]