From:
A M
Date: 2007-06-25 12:58:15 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:Digoxin possibly for Molly?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I asked about Pimobendan before the veterinary cardiologist chose to put Bear on Digoxin and Enalapril (and Lasix/ furosemide.) Bear is now OFF the lasix, fyi. Given Bear's past kidney problems, I was naturally curious about the Pimobendan but our veterinary cardiologist (who DOES have lots of ferret experience) said that he was *not* sold on Pimobendan, and that the so-called lower-risks are being grossly misstated. He's been part of a series of trials with his patients and Pimobendan, and *still* preferred digoxin over Pimobendan *even for a kidney patient like Bear* as surprising as that may be.
From what others here have told me, and from what our vets have said, Digoxin helps improve the actual contraction of the heart muscle whereas Enalapril works similarly to Lasix. In Bear's case, the Lasix made him very dehydrated. When we lowered all of the meds due to a suppressed appetite, he became VERY weak and I was worried we were going to lose him. (The weakness was from his heart, not from lack of food and water because we were force feeding him.)
He's now OFF the lasix completely and is getting Carnivore Care, and is actually acting like himself again. Granted, he doesn't really do the weasel wardance anymore, but he still likes to burrow into sneakers and cats and search for bubblegum...
I'll post his med dosages later from home if anyone is interested. I can't remember the concentrations of his compounded heart meds right now.
-andrea in maryland
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/