Hi all-- I second the keeping medical records idea Mo' Bob mentioned. My vet hands out booklets on ferret care, and the center pages of the booklet are a blank medical chart to make note of your ferret's every visit to the vet. I always know when my guys need their shots as a result. In my last apartment, I was keeping the cabinets closed with duct tape. Well, it's not very aesthetically pleasing or convenient, so I replaced the tape with hook and eye latches. It took Amelia less than a day to figure out how to push the latch open with her nose. End result: I put duct tape back over the hook and eye latches. The ferrets would pick at the tape so I'd have to replace it on a regular basis. In my new apartment, the kitchen is off-limits :) Finally, a question: both of my bugs seem to be producing more earwax than they used to, and their ears smell odd. Cully's ears are worse; they're dirty again a week after cleaning. It's orange wax, not dark colored, but could they have ear mites? I know the only way to find out for sure is to have the vet take a look under a microscope, but I thought I'd find out if I'm being paranoid before plunking down the bucks. I don't think the ferrets are scratching at their ears more than normal, but they seem very sensitive during cleaning-- Cully actually cries pathetically, and Amelia bites the q-tip. I don't know where they'd've picked up mites, unless mites hang out in the park waiting for ears to pass by. Time to walk to the feed store on this somewhat sunny day-- which lucky bug gets to go? Regina Amelia ("well I'm the one who's awake, and you took him last time") and Cully ("Zzzzzz... I don't like the cold anyway") ********************************************* Regina Harrison PhD Student, Anthropology Joint Co-ordinator, AGSEM-- McGill's TA union McGill University Montreal, Quebec "If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing" --Peggie Lee [Posted in FML issue 1743]