To Cheyl with her pet and a cystic kidney:
 
        Cheryl, cystic kidneys are extremely common in ferrets.  Most go
undetected and are incidental findings at autopsy.  They appear to be a
congenital defect which generally has no effect on the ferret's life or for that
matter, renal function.
 
        Your ferret will do just fine without that kidney.  I would not suggest
any dietary change from the normal.  I know of many ferrets out there scampering
around with one kidney.  She'll be fine...
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 576-2453/2454                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
 
[Posted in FML issue 0808]