From:
"Lynn Mac Farlane"
Date: 2004-08-17 22:12:58 UTC
Subject: Question for VETS------Liquid Furosemide for coughs or congestion?
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <LPBBLMGAINDPLIFEALMAIEIEGEAA.gypsi@atlantic.net>
Two ferrets went to the vet today. One went because of a cough, he mostly
coughs at night & not a lot but after being on Clavamox for 2.5 weeks he
wasn't any better. Was also given injections of Batril 0.2,5ccs twice a day
for about 4 days, it didn't stop coughing.
Second ferret went because someone listened to him & told me they heard
congestion in his lungs. He had some sort of respiratory problem about 2
months ago in fact he had it, his cage mate had it & one from another group
had it, plus the one that went for the cough. They had runny noses & were
snuffling. They were all treated with Clavamox & I thought they had gotten
better. This ferret has a very enlarged spleen, enlarged heart & on the
report it says his lung field is congested.
The only medication the vet sent back was Furosemide, (liquid).
Instructions to give to any ferret that is coughing, especially if it is a
morning cough. I said that it was mostly a night cough & very seldom heard
during the day.
>From reading instructions on the bottle, & the indications & useage say it
is for edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the
liver & renal disease including the nephrotic syndrome. It says it is a
powerful diuretic. I don't know why this was prescribed. On the report
there is nothing as to why the one ferret is coughing. Nothing about
congestion. Just recently another ferret was diagnosed with an enlarged
heart & put on Lasix to ease congestion. I believe that is also a diuretic.
The ferret with the congested lung field isn't coughing at all so according
to instructions he wouldn't get the medication., yet nothing else was
prescribed for him.
I am really unsure if I should give this to them or not.