From:
"Amy Seyler"
Date: 2005-04-15 13:51:24 UTC
Subject: Re: cardiomyopathy/adrenal disease
To: "FHL" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-id: <004001c541c2$37248bd0$dd3f0e04@HomeOffice>
Hi Mare --
Way back when I had a ferret who had a heart murmur when she was a year old.
This same ferret also developed cystine stones, which back in 1992 we didn't
know much about in ferrets. (I'm glad we're learning more now.) When Claudia
was four, she lost a tiny spot of hair on her back but I knew what it meant.
In to the vet. Her murmur was a grade 2. We still decided to do the surgery.
As it turns out, she had all of her left adrenal and most of her right
removed, AND also had a big tumor taken off her pancreas. This was with a
vet who has since become well-known for being a ferret specialist
(published).
Claudia came through the surgery just fine. Even with the cardio. She began
taking meds for the cardio (lasix & enacard???). This was IN ADDITION to the
two experimental medicines she was on to control the cystine stones.
Claudia died 3 months short of her 8th birthday, from combined complications
of adrenal/insulinoma. And we were happy to have her for that long. I think,
depending on what your vet says, if the cardio isn't too advanced and Harry
is in good condition otherwise, and both of you think it's worth a try, you
can have the surgery done. I realize we have meds to control the adrenal
symptoms now that were not well-known back in the mid-90s, but I wanted to
give you our story.
Amy