From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-11-22 03:14:05 UTC
Subject: Sevie update; Complete A/V Heart Node Block
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <a05200f01ba034e8038e3@[10.0.1.37]>
Those who remember know that Sev has had Complete A/V Heart Node
Block for 5 months now. Her reduced heart rate is now in the mid to
high 50s range, and she looks like she is taking some kidney damage
from it. If she overdoes it when she plays she pays for it for one
to three days and during those times she also has poor rear end and
bowel control. Needing soft food due to her nose sore and (returned)
mouth sore also makes bowel control harder at those times. The
Carafate helps with her sores and she enjoys the pediatric liquid
form so she takes it like a treat. Too bad that not all of her
multiple meds feel that way to her despite compounding. What we do
know is that -- for Sevie at least -- even Level 3 (Complete) A/V
Heart Node Block is treatable for a good long spell (compared to
dying right away) and that she manages this reasonably well on a rate
even this low usually so far.
We found out that the pet pacemaker that the guys were excited about
working on needs to be dropped for at least a few years. We were
informed by veterinary cardiologists at a major research institution
that there is a 4 figure sum per pacemaker that has to paid to the
holders of the patents for anything of this sort. The patent is very
tight and very encompassing, and they do take anyone trying anything
at all similar to court. That's come up before with ones for
critters and is why recycled human ones are usually used (but for
ferrets who are smaller than large males it would likely have to
instead be the new smaller ones often so that would be non-recycled).
We already knew that Sevie isn't a pacemaker candidate for other
medical reasons, but figured that this data may interest others.
When the patent ends I expect things might change unless there turns
out to be some way to extend it.
For those who need to know one of Sevie's very helpful cardiologists
is listed in the compilation of earlier posts on A/V Heart Node Block
in the Files section. Her current meds are aminophylline, enacard,
proglycem, a little bit of pred, furosemide, and Carafate, and we
have found that she absolutely NEEDS to have some banana each day.
In 20 years she is the only ferret we have had who hates banana so we
mix some banana baby food in with a/d. Those stopped the "spells"
she was having and for some reason she doesn't seem to get as cold
since.
Her slower heart rate is now in the mid to upper 50s (varies in that
range) but as long as she hasn't overdone it in the last three days
she is fully able to enjoy light play and especially still loves
moving small toy mousies which she demonstrated for our our vet today
at a trot. (She can trot but should not gallop or greatly bounce).
Her primary vet says that her vitals just don't match. Ferret hearts
sure appear to maybe be somewhat over-built.
Her kidneys apparently now are taking damage from the circulatory
problems. Still, it's been 5 months with the worst form of Node
Block possible. If she is typical then this is a problem that is
worth tackling for more quality time when possible (not always
possible if other illnesses preclude it).