I nearly had a fit when I got Oliver out of his cage for his playtime on Christmas Eve. His fur was lying rather funny on the back of his neck. On closer inspection I discover a lump 1"x3/4"x1/2". I immediately 'phoned the vet to make an appointment for him for Friday morning, the vet had gone home for the holiday. I checked with Betty of Liverpool Ferret Welfare and she reckoned that it was a abscess. Her diagnosis was spot on because it burst yesterday and today it has halved in size, I've been bathing it with warm salty water to try to keep it open. However, I'll be only too pleased to start treating Oliver with anti-biotics tomorrow. I really must get an extra supply of Antirobe off the vet - that way I can start treatment if it's a weekend or bank holiday. Apart from the abscess Oliver is starting to behave more like a ferret, he didn't want to lie still whilst his neck was bathed, in fact, he doesn't really want to lie on knees any more, he's got really important ferret things to see to i.e. stashing the lurchers toys down the settee:-) I received a heartbreaking 'phone call this morning. Peter, a fairly new ferret owner, rang me to say that his little albino jill, Jennifer, had died in his arms last night. From the sound of things Jennifer had pneumonia - I wouldn't be surprised if her resistance to the cold virus had been reduced due to the fact that she'd been left in season during the summer. Not Peter's fault he didn't adopt her until she was more or less coming out of season. Peter is now wondering if he is a suitable person to keep ferrets - he was doing everything he could to learn about ferrets and really cared for her. Anyway I've got a couple of ferrets here that I reckon will help to fill the space until I take in a couple more strays. So Tasha Yar and Sarek will be moving in with him tomorrow. Sheila [log in to unmask] http://www.btinternet.com/~sheila/ferrets.htm Bolton Ferret Welfare & Newsletter Editor of the National Ferret Welfare Society of the UK The opinions expressed by me are not necessarily those of the NFWS [Posted in FML issue 1796]