I adopted Ralph from a shelter in December 2004. He'd been put on GI antibiotics and steroids in 2001 for chronic gastrointestinal issues and anemia. The drugs caused liver damage (even jaundice), diabetes, chronic dental & skin infections, and chronic ringworm. The anemia caused a heart murmur. The shelter was considering putting him to sleep for "lack of quality of life". (He'd been in ringworm isolation most of his last three years at the shelter, so his chances of adoption were next to nothing.) More at this url