From:
"Ardith"
Date: 2004-07-21 20:13:40 UTC
Subject: Heart and Kidney problems
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <01aa01c46f5f$3aa38df0$415cfea9@ardith5rqz481o>
Buddy has been seen by 3 vets, one a cardiologist. I'm at the point of
wondering if I'm doing the kindest thing for Buddy. I'll explain briefly the
last few days, and post the vets findings. Perhaps one of the doctors here
will have another suggestion.
Age six?
Bilateral adrenal last March
Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and put on furosemide .25cc 10mg/ml a day.
Symptoms worsened, dose now .3cc every 8 hours. Added Amlodipine 1/16 of a
2.5 mg compounded dose SID
The past 3 weeks Buddy has progressively worsened, rapid breathing,
coughing, gasping in early morning hours. Prescribed nitro cream in the ear.
This helps some.
Recent ultrasound of his kidneys show one is dead, the other is struggling.
These are the *off* blood values
Albumin 3.2
total protein 7.4
globulin 4.2
bun 67
creatinine 1.7
cholesterol 297
glucose 68
potassium 3.8
WBC 2.5
neutrophil seg 74
lymphocytes 16
monocytes 8
eosinophil 2
These values are from July 9, worsened from the June 19 test.
All else is in a normal range.
Blood pressure has remained around 145-148
When I count his breathing here at home (asleep) he breathes about 51 times
every 30 seconds. His whole body heaves.
This morning he had what I think was an insulinoma episode. He was better
after a little honey and soup.
One vet wants to discontinue the Amlodipine and try Enalapril, another feels
it will be too hard on the remaining kidney. I'm at the point of what's
worse for my ferret, dieing from heart failure or kidney failure.
Ardith