Do any breeders have any experience with hydrocephalus (water on the brain a congenital defect). Last week while at a local pet store I bonded with an 8 week old male kit that had a malformed and malaligned jaw and protruding forehead (dome shaped cranium). I spent a bit of time looking through medical references and thought this was probably caused by a type of encephalitis so I took him to the vet who diagnosed him with a congenital defect, probably hydrocephalus, (would require an MRI for a definate diagnosis) and was not fit for sale. I notified the pet store which refunded my money and had their vet check him, who confirmed the diagnosis. When I took him back to the store to have their vet check him I indicated that I wanted the ferret back but they do not want to return him to me. This ferret should never have been sold in the first place because this defect should have been picked up by the breeder, the vet who neutered/descented and vaccinated him or the staff at the pet store. Sorry, I am venting my anger, it is just that I am very concerned about him and feel that he would be much better off with me. I would like to know what the treatment for hydrocephalus is in ferrets is and what the typical life expectancy is. The typical treatment in humans is a shunt to remove the excess fluid in the brain and they can live a normal life but I don't know if this has ever been done on a ferret. The ferret already has minor nerological damage but is in no pain, if he was he would have been euthanized by my vet. Carolyn and her fuzzbutts Ceres, Nahanni, Pandora, Ate', Gentian, Bijoux, Ursus, Annarche, Ravyn, Banshee and Dexter my sick little boy And Parker the bunny [Posted in FML issue 2026]