I've been swamped and have hardly been able to read email, much less post. Been spending LONG hours in front of piles of archaeological bone and down at the scanning electron microscope. I am attempting to get into the couple hundred emails this weekend. Foster and Sandy Update: I am one of those guys that have no problem in admitting they are wrong, and I was definately wrong holding off giving steriods to Sandy (for inoperable adrenal tumors) and to Foster (for severe arthritis). Foster gets 0.3cc and Sandy 0.2cc of prelone (?) every other day. The change has been remarkable and dramtic. Foster has his old energy, and is back to climbing and jumping off stuff. He is actively playing, and even though it is obvious he is still having hip problems, he is also having fun again. The steriod hasn't reversed his cataracts, but now, instead of just sniffing the air, he is running over to find out what the thing is. And he is back to eating lots of chicken and fish. Sandy has similarly been affected by the drug, but in her case, her body temperature has dropped back to normal, and she has *regrown* her hair!! She now looks like an albino with a crew cut! I've been calling her short-haired ferret. She is not nearly as fanatic at the water dish, and her appitite is back to normal. What a turn around! I have always hated giving steroids because of their side affects, so put it off on Foster until his arthritis got so bad he could hardly walk. I didn't start them on Sandy until I knew her tumors were inoperable. But now I wish is wasn't so hard-headed, and had started both of them on the steriod treatment much earlier. To stave off the anticipated anti-steroid mail, I have to say not all ferrets may respond as quickly nor as well as Foster and Sandy, and the disease process in both is not necessarily reversed, but perhaps slowed or suspended. Still, at this point, that is good enought for me, and the ferrets now have a higher quality of life, which is the bottom line. Many thanks to the 78 people who wrote me with advice for both. Your comments were appreciated and useful. Some I will try on myself! Bob C and 20 MO Raisin Hounds [Posted in FML issue 2078]