Hi all: I am horribly ill today, so forgive me if this gets goofy. Three things on today's list, for those of you who skim: (1) Keeping ferrets out of cupboards (2) Caging 2 originally separate ferrets and (3) I need medical help for Ricky, please help. (1) To C.J. Ladybug: you said you can't keep your ferrets out of the cupboards, and can't do too much to your rented place. Go to Lowe's or some kind of home improvement store, and ask where the childproofing area is. They sell these things that make your cupboards latch, very easy to attach and cost only a couple of dollars. They work very well. (2) To Nikole: here's what I did recently (and about 4 years ago) when I tried to put 2 "single" ferrets together. Warning, though, it involves buying a new cage. I bought a new, larger cage in both cases (the first was to put Lilly and Trouble together, then recently I put Patches and Slinky together) so that there would be no familiarity to either ferret in the cage (plus, they're more tolerant of the change if the cage they're going to is larger.) Then, I just put them in the new cage together. They were so concerned about the new surrounding that they ignored each other. In my case, it worked both times, and they figured out, well, I've got no choice but to accept this ferret. However, there are a couple of other things you can do: before caging them together the first time, bathe them, at the same time (you'll need help), let them run around to dry off, then cage them together. If you still find that they want to pick on each other spray Bitter Apple over each of them (cover their eyes). That way, if they bite each other they'll be unpleasantly surprised. Good luck. (3) Okay, I really need to know if any of you have ever come across this before. I'll try to be brief. Yesterday, I went to Vet #1 to get vaccines for four of my guys. Everything was fine. I took them home, and after I was sure I'd been with the ferrets for 1/2 hour to know there were no reactions, I went out to dinner. When I got home, about 2 hours after putting the ferts back, I checked them all again. Three were fine. One was not. Ricky, my 6 year old male, was sleeping, but salivating heavily. I picked him up, tried to pry his mouth open, but he was clenching teeth (sign of nausea.) I put him on the floor, and OH my GOD I freaked. He couldn't walk! He tried to, but it was like he was *extremely* dizzy and off balance. The poor guy couldn't stay on his legs, he kept falling over, either on the floor or he'd crash into a cage or wall. Now, this ferret has a history of being a *little* shaky on his legs when he first wakes up, but nothing like this. So, of course, I immediately called Vet #1's emergency number. By the time the vet called back, Ricky was much better. He was darting all around, only stumbling a little, so I thought whatever it was was wearing off. The vet said that he should be fine, if the problem persisted to call back. I put Ricky back in his cage, and went to do some work. By midnight, I was really getting sick, and I felt that I had to lay down for a while. I fell asleep, woke up around 3 or 4 am, and decided that I needed to check Ricky. Darnit, he was horrible! Worse now than before! It wasn't just that he fell over, if he even tried to lift one leg all of the others went out and he'd fling himself into the nearest wall, furniture leg, or the floor. But the poor little guy wanted to play! He hadn't lost any energy, he just couldn't do anything. He'd start walking, then he'd start leaning over while walking, making him walk crooked. Eventually he'd trip himself and fall over. I was freaking out. I decided to wait until morning to call the vet, only because I was really, really sick and I wasn't sure I could drive to the vet. To be safe, I brought his cage upstairs so that I could watch him while I laid down. After a while he started to drink and eat, and I felt better (about him...I was still ill). He didn't seem to be falling over, but he curled up and went to sleep. I woke up this morning, far sicker than yesterday, and checked on Ricky. He was sleeping, so I picked him up and took him back to his cage downstairs, where his sister Sassy still was. He didn't seem to be *as* disoriented, so I put him in the hammock with Sassy, and he and she curled themselves up together, and I knew that he belonged with her. (They love each other SOO much, more than any other animals I've ever known). I went back upstairs, where I fell asleep. Around 4:30 I woke up, showered, and got ready for work (couldn't find anyone to go in for me). I called the vet (#1) and told them what was happening. They said I could come in, but that they didn't know what they could do other than run bloodwork. I couldn't get to that vet in time to go to work, so I called my regular vet (vet #2) and talked with him. On Valentine's day, 1995, Ricky had a very serious illness where all he could do was walk in circles, and seemed as though he was dizzy. This isn't the same, but similar. Vet #2 had treated him for this, and he always suspected neurological problems, but Ricky one day just got better, so I think it was an infection. Anyway, Vet #2 suggested that I drop Rick off on the way to work, and leave him overnight. I insisted that Sassy go too, and he said ok. Now, that's where they are and I know nothing. I'm sick, worried, and I don't know what to do. Please, if you have any ideas or experience with these symptoms, e-mail me (feel free to Cc: it to FML as it may help someone else someday) but I don't want to wait 24 hours to know if I can do something. Thanks for reading my very long post, but I really need some help, plus I needed someone to pray for Ricky. Kymberlie Becker Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association "Forget Puppy Love...There's nothing Greater than Ferret Love!" TM [Posted in FML issue 1903]