>Also, someone mentioned "heart hunch".  I think I have read someone
>referring to that as flattening.  This is an indication of heart problems?
>My scamper started doing that occasionally after adrenal surgery.
 
No.  It's different from pancaking or flattening where the entire body is
flat on the floor.  Flattening can be from being tired, being bored, or
just trying to entice someone to play with them.  Usually the ferret is
stretched out its full length.  Scamper was probably tired after his
surgery.
 
In the "heart hunch," I forgot to say (but thought it was implied) that the
back is hunched up with the front legs extended straight and the head
between the legs.  The face is staring forward.
 
I have *no* medical authority to back me up here (I've never asked anyone
about it).  It's just my observations from 10 years of ferrets owning me
and having several with heart problems.  None of my ferrets have assumed
this position unless they had heart problems as confirmed by a vet.
 
          -Carla
[Posted in FML issue 2565]