Message Number: SG5602 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: sukiec@optonline.net
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 05:12:39 +0100 (BST)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: RE: wasting ferret, need help asap
Message-ID: <6367397.1059711159212.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Yes, ferrets can use Lasix. A number can even cope well with much higher doses than anyone realized at first .
The trick with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is that instead of the heart becoming large and thinly walled like in dilated, the hypertrophic heart has the walls get thicker and thicker but there is not always a noticeable change in the heart size so it can be missed on x-ray. Ultrasounds find them. That is how the our little one's case was found. Since we were stymied as to why she was wasting and no tests were helpful we had a full trunk ultrasound done. When they got up to her chest the cardiomyopthy was found, and when that was treated the wasting reversed.
With the combination of wasting and fluid it wouldn't hurt to also see if there might be signs of lymphoma, of kidney problems, or of liver problems. Cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of ascites in ferrets, though.
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.