Q: "...what do you think are essential first aid supplies for a shelter?" A: For the people or the ferrets? Most pet handbooks have a good list, but here are some of the more unusual things I've found useful one time or another. 1) A well-stocked, human-type first aid kit. Not for the ferrets. For me. 2) A hair dryer that has a setting that delivers 80-90F air at about a foot distance. This is not only for drying wet ferrets that are unable to handle the stress of wet fur, but also for emergency warming for hypothermic ferrets 3) A good scale that measures in grams. Get with metrics, folks. It is so much easier to use, and grams show weight fluctuations much better than 1/4 ounces. Weigh the beasties weekly, or daily if ill. Weights will tell you your ferret is ill, even before you notice other symptoms. 4) A reptile-style heating rock. Most of these cannot get about 100F; heating pads designed for people can overheat a ferret if not carefully monitored. I don't place a ferret on the heated rock; I wire the rock to the top of the cage and allow the heat to radiate down. 5) Plastic pet carriers to isolate sick ferrets. The plastic carrier can be disinfected much easier than a wire cage, and the ferret can be moved from room to room for ease of nursing. 6) A small oxygen bottle and correct water bubbler and tubing. Easier to transform a cage into oxygen tent rather than attempting to use masks. However, the use of oxygen carries risks to the ferret, and can be dangerous depending on the specific environment. Please discuss the use of oxygen with your vet before administering it. 7) A stethoscope. Practice with it over and over until you know the difference between the sound of a heart and intestinal gas. 8) A thumb counter. One of those small metal types used to count people or stuff. I use it to count heartbeats; the ferret heart beats so fast that I have a hard time counting it while keeping track of time, so I listen and push the counter with each beat. Makes it easy for me. 9) Cotton swabs. I use them to rub honey/corn syrup on the gums. Also good for rubbing ointment on a sore bottom. Also good, when lubricated, for stimulating poopie when you need a sample by just inserting the tip into the correct spot. 10) A good rectal thermometer. For accuracy, go to the source. Digital is usually faster. 11) Small moustache or sideburn clipper. Great to trim fur away from wounds or for marking ferrets for identification. Also quite good to remove gum, tar, tree sap or paint from fur. 12) Flea comb and tick remover. Yuuck. I hate ticks. 13) Saran wrap. Want to really restrain a ferret? Use saran wrap instead of a towel. Place a few taut wraps about a hob, and it's instant ferret sausage. Best restraint I've found. And looks really comical. 14) Zinc oxide and oil of clove. Mixed together, makes a great temporary filling for broken teeth. 15) Teat balm. I like the balm in the green metal can with the cow on the side. Great stuff. Cracked paw pads, sore rectums, nose cuts. The stuff is magic, and it can double as a gentle waterproofer as well. 16) Sandbag. Make your own out of fine sand and finer cloth, about a foot square. Covered with a towel, it can be molded to a ferret's body and much more useful in proping them up than towels. 18) Ice cream sticks. Take a stick, snap it in half, put half on each side of a broken limb, and use saran wrap to hold it all together. Fantastic splint in an emergency. 19) 14 guage needle and 50cc syringe. File the sharp end *FLAT* then disinfect. Hook it to the syringe filled with sterile water, or a water-peroxide mix, and you can use it as a high pressure hose to wash out dirt or debris from wounds, clean eyes, or fake giving yourself a shot. 20) Pam (or other spray vegetable oil). Spray the bottom of your litter box or cage tray, and even dried poopie comes off with a wipe. Makes cleaning up the runs a cinch. The secret to my clean cages, so don't tell anyone. The rest of the FML should post their tricks as well. What have I forgot or didn't know? Bob C and 19 MO Frolicin' Fuzzbutts (In memory of Simon) [Posted in FML issue 2377]