>Subject: Violent Sneezing. Allergies? What else could it be? <ferret with a sneezing fit; wonders about allergies> Our boy, Atlas, had a pretty nasty allergy early this last fall. He was the "Itchy & Scratchy" show all by himself. All of a sudden he began to constantly dig at himself. He also had very red and swollen ears, feet, and face. I gave him a bath to wash off anything that might be causing the itching. It quieted him for an hour or two, but then he went back to itching. We took him to our vet who gave him a shot....I can't quite recall what it was, perhaps cortizone. We also had to give him antibiotics for a week and a half. (He had a number of scratches.) The vet and ourselves were at a loss for the specific cause. All we could guess is that he came into contact with something that irritated his skin when Atlas was outside for a walk two day prior. The shot eventually calmed him down and the itching stopped. We've had no relapses of the event. Ferrets can have allergies and reactions just like humans. I would suggest a visit to your vet. It will possibly give you peace of mind and your fuzzy peace from sneezing. ;) >Subject: Having house sprayed for fleas <asking for suggestions> One suggestion. If you do have the house flea-bombed, make sure to pick up toys, blankets, food, dishes, etc. and keep out of the house until the bomb is over, keep in airtight containers, and/or make sure everything is washed after the bomb. I would also clean floors, carpets, furniture, etc. after the bomb. No reason to subject yourselves or your pets to any toxic residues. Be sure to also get information on what chemicals are being used and any cautions or side-effects they may have. >Subject: Marshall Farms <the topic that never dies!> Just my $.02.....unless you are willing to be a vegetarian, not wear leather/furs, use cosmetics/soaps/shampoos/etc. that are cruelty-free, not take just about any medication, etc. I feel it's a bit hypocritical to solely target MF with vehemence on how they treat their animals. If you want to make things better for animals, make informed choices about where you spend your money and work in a positive manner with organizations and/or manufacturers/farms/businesses to improve animal conditions, care, and handling. Rants on this list and newsgroups will never change how ferrets (or animals in general) are treated or settle this MF discussion. -kim (owns 4 MF fuzzies that she wouldn't give up for any amount of $$$), squirt ("Gimme Some Mel'n!"), pippi ("House of the Rising Melon"), atlas ("Devil in a Blue Collar"), and ("I Want to Bite Your Hand") Kimberly Burkard | _ Everything I needed to know in life, Eastman Kodak Company| _____C .._. I learned from my ferret: Rochester, New York | ____/ \___/ Frolic and dance for joy often, have [log in to unmask] |<____/\_---\_\ no fear or worries, and enjoy life. [Posted in FML issue 1808]