From:
Steph
Date: 2001-06-20 23:36:00 UTC
Subject: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: 4 month old ferret with
problem
Thank you so much Mike for the information. I will pass this
on to my vet.
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Janke
To: Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 6:13 PM
heart problem
I suggest you have your vet consult with Ronald Burk, DVM,
Veterinary
Radiology Services of South Florida at 305-437-9630.
Dr. Burk is a board certified radiologist. He came to our
shelter a
few years back and performed an ultrasound on about 100
ferrets to
help develop guidelines for values on the ferret heart.
He might be a good source of the information your vet needs.
mike
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Steph" wrote:
> Dear Dr. Williams,
>
> Thank you so much for your response to my posting
regarding Mikey.
I was at the clinic today with Mikey to have his ultrasound
and other
tests done. My vet has done ultrasounds in the past on
ferrets, but
has not had any luck finding normal measurements for
ferrets. He had
all the measurements for a ferret with cardiomyopathy and
talked to a
ferret vet at the Animal Medical Centre in New York and was
told to
go on VIM and tried several other places, (I hope that I
have my
information correct) no where could he find the normals.
> I told him about this list and he said that he didn't mind
if I
asked if you would know the normal measurements, or is there
a way
that he can contact you or someone who might know.
> Mikey was amazing for his ultrasound and my vet was able
to get
most of the measurements that he wanted.
> Thank you so much for your time.
> Stephanie
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bruce Williams, DVM
> To: Ferret-Health-list@y...
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 11:41 PM
> Subject: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: 4 month old ferret
with heart
problem
>
>
> --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., rumtum99@s... wrote:
> > I have posted a couple of times about my ferret Mikey
without a
> > response, but maybe that was just as well as I was
focusing on
a
> > bladder infection which now seems to be the least of
Mikey's
> worries.
> > I also was confused about which of his heart rates was
the one
> which
> > was the problem.
> > When the infection was discovered 2 weeks ago my vet
was hoping
> that
> > was why Mikey's heart did not sound right (his tonsils
and
spleen
> > were also enlarged at the time, but have since come
down. He
also
> > had a lowgrade fever). A culture was sent and the
infction
proved
> to
> > be sensitive to clavamox. Last week my vet listened
to his
heart
> one
> > time measured it at 240 (which if I understand is
normal for a
> > ferret) then again at 170.
> > Yesterday he was playing with my cats and dog, I was
not
surprised
> > that he was tired, but how he exhibited it. He
propped himself
up
> on
> > one arm in the middle of the floor with his sides
heaving. Off
we
> > went to the vet again. His heart was 150. An EKG and
x-rays
were
> > taken. Mikey is scheduled for an ultrasound on
wednesday.
> > My questions are:
> > 1. How serious is a slow heart
rate?
> > 2. Is there a chance that he
might
outgrow
> this?
> > 3. What might cause this or
would it be a
>
>
> Dear Stephanie:
>
> The heart rate is indeed slow, but I generally would
reserve
comment
> until all of the tests are in. With a heart rate of 150
and
exercise
> intolerance, I would expect there to be other
significant changes
in
> the EKG or the X-rays. If the heart rate is
pathologically slow,
> then I would expect some marked EKG changes to account
for it,
such
> as a heart block or some electrical disturbance that
would
account
> for the dropping of 1 of every three beats.
Cardiomyopathy,
which
> can attack the very young, generally shows some
radiographic
signs
> which the X-ray would pick up in an exercise-intolerant
animal -
> fluid in the chest, an enlarged heart, etc. The
ultrasound may
show
> something along these lines if a plain thoracic film
does not.
>
> If the value of 150bpm is valid, then there should be
other signs
to
> corroborate the diagnosis of heart disease. Without
such signs,
the
> HR would have to be considered a low normal for this
animal.
>
> Another condition that certainly occurred to me, as this
animal
is
> young and exercise intolerant, would be a case of
juvenile
lymphoma.
> In young animals, this disease manifests as masses in
the chest,
> which may compress the lungs over time, as well as an
enlarged
spleen
> and liver. You may want to discuss this possibility
with your
vet
> and find out why it is not currently in the differential
list.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce Williams, DVM
>
>
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