I would really appreciate some information on cardiomyopathy since several ferret owners on the list including myself have been affected by this disease. I lost my first ferret to this affliction. Jennifer Brett is nursing her ferret Nash due to cardio. and Effie Marie's Loki could also have suffered from this. Several other people on the list have mentioned it. I know cardio. can be due to insufficient nutrition but is it also genetic or caused by a virus? How can we as ferret owners prevent this in our loved ones besides providing proper nutrition and medical care? What are the early warning signs of this disease? Hun-Hun, my first ferret who had cardio. first showed that he was ill when he started gagging and coughing up a sticky clear substance. He would run around frantically clawing his mouth to get rid of it. The vet diagnosed pneumonia but when he showed no improvement I took him to another vet who said he had cardiomyopathy. He was approx. six years old. Now my present ferret Teebone is coughing up a clear substance. He has no fever and seems in good health. The vet could detect no problems. Should I put him through some tests or is this normal behavior for ferrets? I know it is not due to intestinal blockage. Teebone is only one and a half years old. Does cardio. normally affect young and old alike? I guess all ferrets lovers have sometimes wondered why this wonderful animal has to be so susceptible to cancer and heart disease. I hope you can answer some of my questions. You have truly been a great help to me and other ferret lovers on this list. Thank you for your knowledge and the time you have given. Judy and the two masked wonders, Weezul & Teebone. [Posted in FML issue 0671]