Hi Everyone, This is my first post from Massachusetts. I signed on to this list because I have a ferret in his "silver years" and he is developing health problems. I'm not sure which problems I should just take as "well, he's getting old" and which ones I should take him to the vet for. Here's the history... Slink claimed us when he wandered into our yard about three years ago, we reported him, and no one claimed him. He's a beautiful, hardy looking fuzzy, spayed with no tattoos. We don't know how old he is, maybe 6? About a year ago he developed a cataract. Anyway, he developed a cough about 8 months ago, and it was about time for his yearly shots so I brought him in. The vet (an exotic) said his lungs sounded clear, and since it was only really evident at sleep time, not to worry about it. Well, it got progressively worse, until I came home one day and the poor guy was laying on his blanket belly-up, wheezing so hard in his sleep that his little front paws were rolling back and forth. I took him right to the emergency room. Two days and $700 later they told me he had recurring pneumonia. He was on anti-biotics for 30 days. My question... should he still be breathing hard? The vet said there might be some scarring of his lungs.... He doesn't play much anymore, just sulks under the dresser. Sometimes he tries to drag things under there with him. He comes out for snacks and then goes back under. He's now an unhappy camper. If you have experience with "geriatric" (as the vet put it) ferrets, would you please write with some advice? What else should I watch for? Thanks!! Kristine (Slink, Pheob [Posted in FML issue 2131]