Hi, I have a few questions about ferrets. I have been a ferret owned human since just before Christmas and I am still trying to figure stuff out. 1. When ferrets wake up and yawn and stretch and shiver and shake (sounds like a dance step), what does it mean when they take their little hands and put them at their neck and then pull them over their heads and face. It's hard to describe, but it's kinda like if they had hair, they would be pulling it down into their face. 2. When they are first waking up, they also take their paws and put them in their mouths and pull their nails through their teeth. Are they cleaning their teeth or their nails? I trim their nails every 3 to 4 weeks. Is this a hint that I need to do it more often? 3. I have read some in the FML that ferrets do the flat ferret or "speed bump" when they are tired or bored. Mine do that and I know the difference between a bored "speed bump" or a tired "speed bump". My question is, what is the difference between that and the indications of heart problems? I had seen some postings on heart problem clues and it seems to me to be the same thing. Is it or is there a different type of stance for heart problem indications? 4. I have been taking my Sola girl to the doctor for hair loss at the base of her tail and around the haunch part of her back legs. He felt that insoluminia (sp?) wasn't the culprit, so he decided to treat her for skin allergies. She got what I call an "itchy shot" and her scratching has been reduced and the hair is coming back. My concern though, is I have noticed that she has the fattest little legs I've ever seen. In fact, I picked her up this morning and she feels like she is putting on weight. The haunch area of her back legs are just so flabby. (Kinda cute actually). When she runs, they "muscle up" and don't look so bad, but when relaxing, she looks like she's had one too many Cheweasels! Has anyone encountered this? If so, did you determine the cause? Any problems that came from this? Thanks for your help and sorry so long... April and the two Cheweasel hiding fools, Luna and Sola (don't forget Nutt, Bridgette, and Damon) [Posted in FML issue 2696]