If you look at past posts of ferret veterinary pathology expert, Dr. Bruce Williams, a stroke technically involves dislodged plaque. Thrombosis is the term when there is a thrown clot, and since thrown clots have underlying causes in ferrets (usually cardiomyopathy, sometimes kidney disease, sometimes lymphoma, etc.) it is essential to find the underlying cause and treat it. I recall having to learn that with our first experience of thrombosis in a ferret, not her first thrombosis, though. her first was to a leg, her second to a kidney, and her third to her brain; she had cardiomyopathy. Our next experience with a thrombosis to the brain was a male found comatose, but with care he recovered almost completely. In fact, I suspect that is in the FML archives which I don't have time to search right now, but you could search them easily enough. The URL is in the header of every day's FML. Also see: http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=YG2176 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=YG3833 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=YG11396 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=YG11338 Normal heart values paper if needed: http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=YG4858 It is good that ferrets have been cut a break in their own way. Also to consider: you mention an accident. What complications of trauma and dog attack have been considered and checked for? Certainly, secondary infection can also cause massive symptoms if large enough. Has a check been done to see if any marrow may have dislodged? Have cervical or thoracic spinal cord damage been considered? Has meningitis been considered, or any other neural diseases? Many birds don't eat fish, but that doesn't mean that ferrets should not have some. Fish is high in Omega 3 Fatty Acid which is WONDERFUL for kidney health. What ferrets should not have is a diet high in certain marine mollusks and fish because too much can cause yellow fat disease/nutritional steatis which luckily is not often seen. So, some fish in the diet can help protect kidneys, a good thing to know. -- Sukie (not a vet) Ferret Health List co-moderator http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives fan http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ replacing http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org International Ferret Congress advisor http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5175]