From:
Lynn McIntosh
Date: 2002-03-30 12:48:00 UTC
Subject: Congenital Heart Defects
Hi! This is in response to the person whose ferret was recently diagnosed iwth
congenical heart murmur. Our Minnie was born with a heart murmur. Back
when she was around 1 1/2 years old she fell iss with a bacterial infection over
the holidays and ended up at the ER. That's when we learned of the heart
issue (we got her at about 1 years old). What a ruckus it caused! She nearly
didn't get antibiotics, which saved her, because of the distraction over the heart
issue (she was one of our first ferrets; we wouldn't miss this now). Anyway,
once it was sorted out we were told to expect to see symptoms at around four
years old. At least there vets rated the murmur at 3 on a scale of 6 (4 is when
symptoms show up). She was spayed soon after that; a "Cardiopet" was run
on her first, checking her murmur through a phone line to New York (never
quite understood all this). Anyway, she did fine on isoflourane for the spay.
She is now 7 3/4 years old and doing well with insulinoma on pedipared and
Proglycem.
A key to Minnie's longevity, I think, is that she has always been extremely
active, and we made it a point to make sure she always got lots of excercise (in
our semi-ferret proofed backyard, where we take them out one at a time/or one
human per ferret for daily romps). She still goes outside though has slowed
down a lot. She has been a normal fert all her life, but with a heart that sounds
like a washing machine- somehow things must balance out for her. We haven't
had an ultrasound done because we have not had to start heart meds yet
(except a short episode I have mentioned on the list), though we have expected
for some time that we would need to.
I think Minnie may be a lucky case, but wanted to share my story because I
recall how freaked we were when the murmur was first heard. She has been
an extremely happy, healthy ferret up to the insulinoma, and is doing will with
that. It isn't insignificant that she was a runt! Runts are often the weakest of
the batch, but she was feisty from the get go. Always a tiny (1 lb. 5 oz. until
insulinoma) and snowy white gal (until insulinoma; she has yellowed), with an
adorable short face and ruby eyes, she is the cutest little thing. I had her mom,
also beautiful albino, for many years with Minnie, until we lost mom to
lymphoma at 8. They were a beautiful and loving pair. Sure miss Momma
Claudette, but am thrilled at how her baby is doing.
Lynn
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