Regarding the MF debate. I have not dealt with the volume of ferrets that many of the people have who wrote about their belief that MF ferrets may be "prone" to adrenal and other cancers, however, I wanna put my two cents in anyway because my experience is so much different than what i'm reading here. Of the several ferrets that have been in our family over the last several years the sickliest of them have all been non-MF. Now, we did have an MF ferret (Edith) require an adrenal surgery just a couple months ago. She is almost 4 years old. She sailed through the surgery no problem. But on the other hand, Nina was non-MF came from Colorado, she died at 2.5 years old of Lymphosarcoma. Henry, is non-MF from Canada, has had bouts with ulcers, intestinal problems, ear problems, nervous problems on an ongoing basis for going on two years (he is going on 3 years old) and has had to be hand fed almost daily for nearly 2 years, he's been to the vet at least 25 times. I could go on. Nina and Henry lived with us since they were babies. Now, Clarence (3 yrs), Zoey (3 yrs), June and Dino are all MF ferrets and have always been completely maintenance free (knock on wood!). I know they're young and problems may have yet to develop, but all of the non-MF ferrets who have lived with us with health problems have displayed them much younger than these ages... Also, something else I feel I must say is that every "rescue" ferret we've brought in has been non-MF. Granny, who was abandoned by her owners to starve to death was non-MF. Boy, who was found in somebody's garage skinny as a toothpick is non-MF. Ford, who was found in the middle of a major highway - non-MF. Why not add also in the abused albino boy, Sidney, from Fredonia - he's obviously non-MF. You see, my thinking goes like this... MF ferrets are known for their docile behavior not to mention they don't poof. The casual ferret owner might abandon a sometimes biting, sometimes poofing ferret more frequently than a small docile non-poofing MF ferret. There is a breeder here that sells kit ferrets for $65-75; older ones for cheaper (The Fredonia guy sold them for $35 i think). MF ferrets in pet stores here are about $150 or $200 with a starter kit included. I believe (at least from my experience in our area) that non-MF ferrets might be treated disposably which is so different from what i'm reading here. >Butler, our rescue with the large abcess in his ear, is just doing worse >all the time. I'm so sorry to hear your story. We have used colloidal silver in aloe ointment successfully in a couple abcess experiences in our ferrets. Good luck. charlene [Posted in FML issue 1734]