From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-04-15 00:50:00 UTC
Subject: Re: MVP in Ferrets
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., bandiboo@w... wrote:
> I would like to ask Dr. Williams and anyone else if they have had
any
> experience with mytrovalve prolapse
> in ferrets? We have a 5 year old albino male that, upon examination
in
> November, presented with possible
> signs of cardiomyopathy. We have had ultrasound done and instead the
> diagnosis is for MVP which as my vet stated is certainly a better
> diagnosis. BTW..we found the heart condition when we were
> getting him ready for adrenal surgery.
> Because we do not feel he is now a candidate for surgery due to the
> heart
> problem, we are treating with LUPRON
> (4mo form)for the adrenal and are treating the heart by use of
enecard
> daily, lasix and CQ-10. He
> seems to be doing very well although
> he does not play as much with the other 5 now and does sleep quite a
> bit.
> I have searched different sites and looked
> thru my FOX book but can find nothing
> specifically re: MVP. We are certainly
> glad that the diagnosis was not for
> cardiomyopathy but am wondering what
> the long term prognosis/treatment would
> be for this. Is there anything else we
> should be doing at this point?
Dear Joyce -
Valvular damage is often seen with cadiomyopathy, and I would not
rule out the possibility of primary CMP with valvular disease as a
result.
Enacard and lasix are two of the three commonly used drugs for CMP -
all that you are missing is digitalis (usually prescribed as
digoxin). Digoxin strngthens the contraction of a failing heart
muscle.
I think that if there hasn't been sufficient response to the current
therapy, that you may want to re-evaluate this animal and add
digitalis to the current course of therapy.
The long term prognosis for clinical valuvlar disease is about the
same as it is for CMP - not good. We really can't ever improve the
situation - with appropriately dosed medication, all we can do is
slow down the progression of the signs.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM