Just had to send a note. Albinos, Spot (who is trying to reach 4 pounds this winter) and Warp ( a smallish 1# 12 oz of muscle) are sleeping together, and when I looked in on them he was on his back and slightly curled while she had the front of her neck and her chin planted in his side, both were asleep and HE WAS STROKING HER HEAD! It was as cute as can be. I'm trying to catch up on the FMLs by working backward. If I say something which sounds like I am unfamiliar with anyone's earlier post that's why. Meltdown has raisins simmering in water. Since she's off her food almost (or) entirely now and today is also less interested in water we're trying everything. The raisins are to make her raisin "tea"; today she's turning her nose up at Nutrical soup, Nutristat soup, a mix, and meat based soups, and she won't touch any of the nutrition drinks. She also has a stink sack (a lunch size paper bag with assorted herbs to smell) in with her to help keep her happy and I'm wearing two of her favorite cuddle shirts for when she needs to be carried or held. The only ways to get her to drink earlier were to have her "steal" some of the water from my glass, and water from the other ferrets' cage. She's not acting uncomfortable and we aren't forcing anything; it's a wonder she's lasted this long and we want whatever time she has left to be pleasant. Since the phone trick didn't work today Steve will try working on her fluid and nutrition only while I take over all the meds. This morning from 4 a.m. she spent a large number of hours in bed since the pressure swings with a bad storm upset her greatly. If she continues this way she WILL pass peacefully. Mini's letter left Steve and I with several questions: Do you pass on most of your ferrets at an early age (given 200 in 10 years but very few mentioned there now), how old are your current ferrets, at what median (most common) and mean (average) ages do the ferrets you keep for their entire lifetimes pass away, the same for those who move on to other homes, and what do your ferrets die of if you have never lost even one to illness? Our's typically live around 7 to 9 years, one a bit older and one a bit younger, and one at around 1 year of juvenile lympho (We've had ferrets for over a dozen years, and ourt current 5 are 8 years and 2 months plus a few days, 5 yr. 4 mo., 4 yr. 4 mo., 4 yr, and 2 yr. 6 mo. The most common age beyond which we see serious illnesses or operations are needed is after 5 years old. Noted that Bill Killian brought up some of the problems with herbal remedies and holistic rather than traditional medicine. We have a very special note to add that: if your ferret has heart disease, especially cardiomyopathy, DO NOT use such remedies. Many are based upon things which will cause high blood pressure, rapid heart rates, or erratic rates. Sukie Steve's Christmas card with music: http://skunk.research.att.com/yule.html To see some of our ferrets past and present: http://skunk.research.att.com [Posted in FML issue 1776]