Message Number: YG12034 | New FHL Archives Search
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.