From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-13 17:24:58 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] RE: dilated cardiomyopathy/anorexia (more info)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4919939.1116005098220.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> Is this the only medication he is on?
I also wondered that because Furosemide/Lasix only addresses the resulting fluid problem and does not treat the heart disease itself so if it is the only med being used the cardiomyopathy has pretty well gone untreated, actually.
Please, read those reseources I mentioned to see some medications that are used to treat the heart disease itself. An ultrasound (and sometimes also an EKG/ECG permits the medications to be best chosen for the particulars of the ferret's own case.
If the heart is large enough to press on the esophagus now try very fluid foods.
Also, Furosemide dries the nasal membranes so it reduces the sense of smell. Heat the foods to increase their odor and hand feed (slowly and patiently -- see past posts on the techniques) by finger, spoon, or bowl, or by something which lets to drip it in front of the ferret to eat/drink it on demand. (Syringe feeding carries a risk of inhaling food and getting pneumonia.) Stinkier foods do best for acceptance when there are dry mucus membranes.