Hi FMLers! Well, after nearly one month of waiting for the results of Angel's Urogram Contrast Study, we finally have a diagnosis. As I mentioned several weeks ago, it seemed likely that her constant dribbling was the result of an anatomic abnormality called an ectopic ureter. This was finally verified with the urogram. It seems that only one of them is affected.(fingers, toes and ferret paws crossed!). I have been given three options: #1: Do nothing and treat with antibiotic therapy for the rest of her life, as this condition predisposes her to chronic UTI's and possibly damage to her kidneys. #2: Microscopic surgery involving surgically incising her bladder and somehow opening her ureter in the proper place, from the inside of the bladder. This procedure is very risky, highly experimental in ferrets (considered microscopic in cats, so imagine the difficulty of such a procedure on a 1.25 lb sprite). She would need several days of hospitalization and a follow-up Urogram to determine if the surgery was 100% successful. There is a very good chance that it would not be, due to the above reasons. The final disadvantage... a cost of over $1000.00. #3: Removal of the kidney with the defective ureter. I am told that she should live well into old age with just one kidney. This surgery is much less risky, much simpler to perform, and if indeed only the one ureter is involved, much more likely to succeed. It is also very inexpensive, at a cost of $100.00. Although I would never put a price on a pet's health, the cost is obviously a big factor. There are also the risks to consider, and both my vet(Dr. Anna Edling of Line-Lexington Animal Hospital-Colmar, PA) feel that the third option is the safest and most likely to succeed. She personally owns ferrets and feels that this is what she would do if Angel was one of her own. For newbies and those who want to know: Angel was purchased at 8 weeks of age at a pet store, along with two others. She was incontinent from the beginning...apparently from birth. She was treated with several different antibiotics, none of which worked. She had exploratory surgery and a urine culture, which showed only the presence of a resistant strain of bacteria. She was treated with the appropriate antibiotic, tetracycline, and again this did nothing to improve her situation. We also tried some DES hormone therapy, which aside from swelling and consticting her vulva, and slightly diminishing the leakage, had no lasting effect.The Urogram was performed next, and due to circumstance beyond our control, we are just now able to put a final diagnosis to this problem. I cannot tell you what it is like to live with an incontinent ferret....well, maybe I can! ; ) She has to be washed two or three times a day, especially after sleeping, because the urine constantly drips and saturates her hind end. It also saturates all of her bedding and her cagemates, too. I have to change their bedding twice a day and do a whole load of ferret laundry every two days. Although I try to pick her up every few minutes to wipe her bottom, the urine still makes it to my carpet, the inside of the clear dryer hose, etc., etc. The odor is absolutely horrendous! : ( I cannot wait until I have a sweet little fuzzy to cuddle(without wiping her bottom, first!).<GGG> I hope no-one on this list ever has to deal with what I have been through. I know there are alot of worse medical problems to deal with, but this is the worst crisis I have had to endure thus far. Please keep us in your thoughts, her surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21. DRS. WILLIAMS, DUTTON, AND LEVINE: I would like to know your thoughts on this matter. Please respond privately or via the FML, whichever you prefer. Thanks in advance! Dodie Newcomb and the Fuzzy Five in NJ [Posted in FML issue 1660]