Hello, I woke up this morning to find that Noodle had passed away in his sleep in the night. Noodle was the ferret who, a month ago, had had an adrenalectomy, splenectomy, lymph node, and hairball removal all in one gigantic operation from which he had recovered nicely. For the past week, however, he'd been slowing down a bit; his stool had been small and he'd been throwing up partially digested food. I was giving him Petromalt, but he also didn't seem to be eating much. I'm not sure what part of me decided not to take him to the vet - perhaps the part that recognized he'd been through an awful lot recently, and particularly in the past two years - but the results of his autopsy showed that he died of extremely advanced liver cancer, about which nothing could have been done. When I found him he was curled up as if asleep, and I had to reassure myself several times that he was actually gone, as he looked simply asleep. I am reassured that he passed quietly despite what were probably a painful few last days, and I'm sad that he couldn't have had a longer, happier life after gamely making it through the surgery. The vet commented that he must have been quite spunky to even have survived to the point that he did, considering how advanced the cancer was. Noodle was scrappier and more singled-minded that most and had an amazing knack for appearing in locations that it was impossible for him to have gotten to. He was slowed down by cataracts later in his life, and his favorite thing in the world was a weird little bear that had been given to him by a previous roommate of mine. The bear had to be moved regularly and typically accompanyed him when he went to sleep (in classic ferret style :). The bear went with him to the vet for the last time. Rest peacefully, little guy. Melissa - [log in to unmask] - This is a coin hold of great beak bird style. - [Posted in FML issue 2825]