Dear all,
 
My vet received the pathology reports from Dr. Michael Garner today.
Whitey did die of DIM/Mystery Disease.  It caused his heart to fail.
You were right Sukie.
 
As the doctors still don't know how communicable this is, I am keeping a
very close eye on the rest of the fuzzbutts.
 
Folks, this was a horrible ordeal to have to live through, but since
Whitey was such an oddball case his records may someday help find a cure
or a vaccine.
 
Now a word of advice; I spent in excess of $3,000.00 trying to save
Whiteys life.  This disease is almost, if not completely 100% fatal.
The emotional toll it took on me far outweighed any financial costs.  I
refused to give up.  I'm not suggesting that any of you put your ferrets
down before it's time, but make sure you have a good vet, (I did) and
above all else, listen to what your heart and your ferret tell you.  When
(or if) you have to send your baby on to the rainbow bridge, please,
PLEASE make his or her records available to the doctors researching this!
 
On a happier note, the three surviving adults, (Shelby, Saide and Sparky)
the two kits (Nibbles and Little One) and my rescue ferret (Rocky) are
all well, happy and making plenty of poop to clean up :-)
 
And a second happier note, my local PetSmart had a sign up that they were
going to be selling ferrets; that sign has come down and Guinea Pigs now
occupy that enclosure.
 
Leslie
[Posted in FML issue 4720]