From: 
Suzanne Owens 
Date: 2002-03-23 12:05:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Congenital Heart disease in kit
              
                  Are her facial markings/ coloration bilateral, or is each side 
                  a 
                  good bit different from the other? (That is important since 
                  very 
                  unilateral coloration can indicate a form of aortic arch 
                  defect that 
                  is bad,)
                  ** Her markings are very similar, but not exact on both sides 
                  of her head.  Her face is white, with grey streaks going down 
                  the back of her neck.  Not identical, but close.
                  What type of congential defect is present?
                   
                  **  Not sure.  I'll have to phone the vet tomorrow and ask.
                  How is her blood pressure? 
                   
                  **  It wasn't checked (will be next visit).  If it is a 
                  problem, I'm hoping you'll share some of the recipes Dr. 
                  Willard gave you that helped yours along.  She's already big 
                  on chicken gravy, however mine only consists of grain fed 
                  chickens and ferretone thus far.
                   
                  Exercise, large temperature changes, and stress are all things 
                  to try to control in a ferret with a serious heart problem. 
                   
                  **  This will definately be a challenge then.  She's an 
                  extremely active, rough-and-tumble kit.  She even gives her 
                  older sister a run for her money.  Likes playing it rough 
                  pretty much all the time.  It's either play, or watch her flat 
                  ferret from boredom.
                   
                  Be sure to let her breeders know.
                  **  Something else I'm dealing with.  Although I realize this 
                  is strictly a health forum, I would welcome any information 
                  from people who've brought any types of civil lawsuits against 
                  their kit's breeder.  It's become clear to me that Sneakers' 
                  medical expenses are going to be costly, and I'm already 
                  having a difficult time keeping up with it.  So, my efforts 
                  will focus on having her health care covered for the rest of 
                  her (hopefully long and relatively healthy) life.
                   
                  **  I'm hoping to have the ultrasound done this Thursday.  
                   
                  Thanks again.  Sneakers and mom.