I just have to interject a few comments here regarding a discussion I see on the FML recently. My family and I have used vanilla, in all it's different grades from original "bean" to expensive or cheap extracts my entire life. Copious amounts in cookies, ice cream, cakes, etc., as well as for room deodorizer, psuedo- perfume and additions to bath water. Never once has anyone had any kind of an allergic or toxic reaction to this substance. Never. At all. And we are talking spanning over 90 years (my Grandmother is 90 and according to her, her mother used it HER entire life.......so I know that can go back to the 1800's since she attended the World's Fair in St. Louis, and told me about it in detail). That is why I thought it was such an excellent idea to use in ferret bedding or to clean up "no-no" places as suggested in the very good article written by Bob Church for Modern Ferret. Haven't had any reactions from the fuzzy rulers, either. As far as onions go, well........let me share a little personal story. Talk about almost killing someone or something you know from kindness. I have a precious little Chihuahua named Lupita. Lupita, like her ferret brothers and sister, is a pamper, spoiled little devil dog (just kidding....at least about the devil dog part) who was catered to by me and the whole family, except "Ricky Ricardo," since her infancy. She did not, and still DOES not like "doggy dinner" (as we call it, ok?). She has been fed off the table all her life like all the other dogs we have had, and they lived to be over 13-16 years old. All of em'. Well, 'Pita was always skinny and a very, very picky eater. She didn't weigh over 3.5 pounds. I worried so much about her, tried to put her on dog food, and she refused and got skinnier. Well, I gave in. All kinds of vets visits, all kinds of tricks to put weight on her didn't work. Then we found the common denominator. See, Lupita has always had a thing for onions (and green peppers for that matter) to the point of where I would buy her Philly Beef N Swiss sandwiches from Arbys and she would eat the onions and green peppers before the meat. Consistently. Onions were a daily part of her diet, in large quantities, since they are a big part of ours. Well, one day I heard a report of onion toxicity in dogs. It described her symptoms to a tee. So, I eliminated onions from her diet. (And if you think that wasn't hard to do, guess again......) Yes, I had a very rebellious pouting little dog. But in less than a month, the change was DRAMATIC. Removing onions was the only change I made, seriously. She put on almost a pound, and when you're that size, well, that's a lot. She has continued to thrive, got more energy, is not anywhere near as cranky (but then, chihuahua's are never cranky, right?). I mentioned it to the vet, he did some research and told me I like to have OD'd my dog on onions. And they were the last thing that he would have ever looked for. I mean, really, how many chihuahuas do you know that would kill for an onion over sirloin? Yes, I know we are talking about a dog here. But a little dog. And if they can do that to dogs, well, I'm not taking a chance with my little ferret angels. Would you? No, I'm not saying the occasional piece of clandestein onion ring will make them drop dead. But I wouldn't risk more than an occasionally treat. The reactions are just too scary to think about for me. No, I don't want a flame war for disagreeing with someone. But I felt obligated to state the facts as I have experienced them. No, I'm no scientist. Far from it. But I do know what has happened to me and mine and wanted to share it. And, before all the flames hit my mailbox over my dog's (and the possible extrapolation to my ferrets) diet, I want to state that my vet has complimented me numerous time, and again just recently, upon their state of health. I may go against popular opinion, but I must be doin' something right. Dooks to you all......... Catherine, Pato, Snowball, Hubert and Elsie (and Lupita the onion-free Chihuahua) "Behind the Zion Curtain" [Posted in FML issue 2331]