Maria, these should be of help to you: http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org and from http://www.ferretcongress.org: >Cardiomyopathy and other heart problems: >http://www.vetheart.com/ heart info from veterinary cardiologists >http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/cardiomyopathy.txt >http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/cardiomyopathy.htm >http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/cardio.htm >http://home.att.net/~hhoefer/ferret_heart.htm Survival time depends on the type of cardiomyopathy and the fit of the meds (Ultrasound helps with each of those two things.) as well as there being individual factors and the importance of keeping stressing factors under control. We've had one go as long as 1 and 1/2 years with cardiomyopathy complicated by ventricular bigemini once she was put on Digoxin (even though she had originally been expected to die in weeks from her rhythm problem) and have heard of ones who had uncomplicated cardiomyopathy who went longer with careful care. On the other hand, we have had ones who were also sick with other terminal things who went quickly from their multiple burdens and increased medicating difficulties when there are medication conflicts between terminal conditions (problems which one must expect in those rare situations), and I guess the quickest non-complicated cardiomyopathy individual we've had was one with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the rare kind in them which is usually not found till it is advanced or till it kills) and she went something like 6 to 9 months. Sorry that I can't recall the length of time. Treatment for cardiomyopathy can't cure it but it does absolute wonders for improving both the quality of life and the quantity of time remaining. There are multiple truly excellent meds out there and which ones are used depends on the nature of the disease, it's presentations in the individual, and how it changes over time in the individual. BTW, I think maybe it's been about a week or two since I've said this (I know -- people are yawn through the needed repetition.): I'm not a vet. Ailigh, no matter where adrenal ferrets are located the presentations vary widely. The photos tend to show advanced cases or typical presentations. Off the top of my head here are some symptoms of adrenal disease. Note that a ferret may show a number of these or may even show none at all, then suddenly present with a life threatening complication (which happened with one of our ferrets when his urethra blocked completely even though he had no adrenal symptoms so he needed an emergency appointment to empty him and them emergency surgery about 12 hours later to remove his disease adrenal at which point he cleared up beautifully). I am sure to miss some of the symptoms in this list so others should chime in. 1. bilaterally symmetrical fur loss ANYWHERE on the trunk, limbs, or top of head (loss of fur on the tail only may be from adrenal growths but is more often dermal) 2. pear shape from fat depositing below the waist; some ferrets also get very thin above the waist 3. swollen vulva 4. swollen nipples 5. fur feels more coarse from loss of undercoat 6. odor change 7. unusual fat distribution (This can also be internal; a few ferrets get fat deposits in the thorax which is painful and can be life threatening, The fat reallocation can at times increase fat distribution around lymph nodes which scares some people into thinking "lympho".) 8. increased incidence of ulcers 9. accelerated bone density loss 10. repeated vaginal infections 11. repeated urinary tract infections 12 dangerous (life threatening as it worsens) levels of anemia 13. behavioral changes (Ferret may act more kit like, or may become inappropriately sexually aggressive, or may suddenly baby other ferrets, toys, or humans to much greater extents. One odd behavior we've seen is one who would urinate on the head and shoulders of the youngest ferret in the household when her two took off.) 14. dysuria from swollen prostate 15. thin skin, sometimes increased blackhead, and sometimes skin sores [Posted in FML issue 4214]