About a year ago, I discovered Tally laying in her hammock, frothing at the mouth in a near comotose state. I rushed her to my local vet who diagnosed her as having dangerously low blood glucose levels, about 20 (normal for ferrets is about 100). He determined that she had pancratic tumors which was causing an overproduction of insulin (insulinoma). The vet referred me to the Univ. of Oklahoma Vet College and about a week later, they operated. This was after I spent many hours sending out email msgs to many of you on if the diagnosis sounded correct and if the surgery was the best option. Well, I'm happy to report that Tally, nearly 7 years old now, is doing GREAT. We had a scare about three months ago when her glucose was very low again, but it was probably as a result of the size of her pancreas being reduced from the surgery, not necesarily cancer. She is getting 1 mg of prednisone twice per day, along with a small amount of brewers yeast. She is more active than she was when she was a pup. She chews on her cage ("LET ME OUT NOW!"), romps around for about 45 mintues before she finds her favorite sleeping place in the bedroom and digs up our potted plants with the greatest of vigor (man, she can throw dirt far). Her staring spells have nearly ceased and she's put on all the weight she lost. We appreciate all the help the members of the ferret list have given in helping us learn about ferret diseases and care. It's great to have a resource for ferret owners to go to find out more about their pets. I appreciate all who have helped to make Tally well again. Bobby, Jane, and Tally Enid, OK (p.s. -- now that we give her medicine twice a day [mixed with ferretone -- yum], she is a lot more affectionate than she was. We think it's as a result of seeing "us," versus the food bowl, as a source of food. This is our 2nd ferret, and we have heard about the benefits of hand-feeding, but now we can see the results. If you have a pup, you may want to consider hand feeding at first -- it may make for a more affection fuzzy.) [Posted in FML issue 1886]