That's good I guess. Thanks Mr viper. Looks like I'll be pullingthe head to see the gasket sometime soon. I'll post pictures on here for everyone to read the condition.
You could pressure check the cooling system through the cap and look for coolant in the cyclinders through the plug hole before yanking the head but I don't think you'd be wasting time or money pulling the head given other's issues with this gasket. Is it using/loosing coolant?
Did you find the whole critter (did he loose any limbs)? I'm guessing the head gasket coolant passages are the smallest in the system so if there are any restictions from a collection of the invader's body parts you'd find them there. Not sure what a wad of fur would do to the pump impeller either but it sounds like you have flow.