Hi all, just wanted to let anyone who might have wondered, that I am finally back on the net. After a 2500 mile move across country and several months without net access, I am finally back online. Most of you probably don't know/remember me, but taking a look at today's FML, I see a lot of familiar names. BIG, great job as always :) Quick update: I am down to two ferrets (wasn't that a big change after having a 100+ at one time!) who are doing great having their mommy back to themselves. Cooter, my MF gib, is getting up there in years, heading towards his 8th birthday but still hanging in there. Bilateral cataracts have finally caused complete blindness, but that doesn't slow him down a bit. He takes longer, more frequent naps and is having a bit of a time keeping up with his companion, Talyn. Shortly after moving here, Cooter and Talyn got fleas for the first time and Cooter had quite a reaction, losing a lot of fur on his torso and developing scabs from itching. The fleas were easily taken care of and the scabs gone in days, but he has never regrown his hair. I think due to his age, his poor old body just doesn't have the energy to regrow it right now, but it's been months and no change. On the good side, it hasn't gotten any worse either. Although he looks a bit funny with a fully furred tail and head and almost bare mid-drift, he's still momma's boy and gives the best kisses of any ferret in the world! (And I'm not prejudiced a bit :) ) One thing I'd like to hear advise on from the decades of experience on this list is whether I should continue Cooter's vaccines. Three years ago he had a terrible reaction to his distemper vaccine. Since then, I always gave his vaccines 6 months apart to try to keep reactions to a minimum as well as giving him an injection of Benedryl pre-vaccine. So far no more reactions, but given his age and reaction to the fleas, I'm concerned now about giving him further vaccines. He is not exposed to possible distemper directly, but only through me walking outside and then in. My thoughts are to discontinue his vaccines, continue with Talyn's, and hope for the best. I would be heartbroken if he should die because of me and I know he probably won't last much longer as it is. He was my first ferret and I love him to pieces. Thank you in advance to any opinions/ideas I get on this matter. Tracy Tunnison, formerly of Mid-Michigan Ferrets, now just Tracy, Cooter and Talyn in the great state of Washington. PS: To any of you out there that have any of my babies, I'd love to hear updates! :) PS again: If there are any ferret clubs and/or people with ferrets in the Olympia area, I'd love to hear from you. [Posted in FML issue 2289]