While I'm setting in the Doctor's office waiting (and waiting and waiting) I thought I would write an update of the ferts. Foster, the 12yo with the arthritic hips is doing *much better*! We started him on a .3cc prednisone dose (each third day) and it has absolutely done wonders. His coat is better, he is much more active and interested in things, and his appetite has shot through the roof. He still limps, but it is clear he is not feeling as much pain. Sandy is also doing somewhat better. She is on a .2cc prednisone dose (odd days), which seems to have slowed down the growth of the tumor. After much discussion, (and FML input), I elected not to go the chemotherapy route because of the extent of her cancer. Yesterday I had to run like a bat out of hell from my morning class to get her over to some vet students who are interested in learning more about cancer in ferrets. They practiced ultrasounds and stuff, and Sandy was the best little girl in the world. She was very calm, and didn't nip a single person until I took her back, them, blam! right on the forearm! Blood and everything. I guess she knew who to blame. It was the first time she bit me since I adopted her. After the bite, she snuggled into my arms and went to sleep. Women. Razz, the adopted fert from KC who had her toenails amputated by her former owner, had a bout of severe hershey squirts and dropped about a half pound in two days. She's well rehydrated, and has been sucking up the duck soup, Bob's Bone and Meat Mix, and heavy cream mixed with creamed chicken. She is maybe 7 or 8 years old, and is at the bottom of the pecking order because of the disadvantage of missing her claws. BTW, she is a MF fert, and otherwise healthy. Whatever it was, it seems to be over; I suspect a flu although no one else became ill. Bear, Chrys, Daye, Stella, Apollo, Moose, Crystal, Trillian, Sam Luc, Fraggle, Nosette, Simon, Tori and Ballistic are all in great health and starting to but on the late summer fat. Carbone, Jet, Amber and Jezabel are growing like weeds, and Carbone is already almost as large as Bear. He is going to be huge. He will set down and completely consumed a chicken drumstick in a single setting, including the cartilage and bone. Then he licks the floor and sniffs for more. His coat is actually getting darker and the only white is on his ear tips and his muzzle, and a tiny pair of white eyebrows. He is so cute, even I get mushy looking at him. I took him to school to show to Paul (A cool vet student I am corrupting towords research) and Paul's girlfriend actually melting into a pool of blubbering slime. I couldn't believe it. She made goo=goo noises and everything. I needed a crowbar to pry the fert out of her arms, and then she followed behind me, drooling, for hours, mumbling words like "need one"..."want ferret"..."will kill for fert..." Paul now hates me. Or did until I bought him off with a beer and a taco. All four kits have settled down and have stopped biting the soft parts of my elbow and back of knee. They do love to play with me though, and, with Stella and Bear, follow me all over the house. One thing about Amber though; never and I mean *never* get between her and a raisin. She loves to hiss anyway, but she gets *mad*! Throws a tantrum and tears up toys. Unbelievable. I'd spank her but she would only think it was fun. Bob C and the MO 21 Ferts Of Joy [Posted in FML issue 2063]