From:
"dofikatt"
Date: 2007-09-03 17:38:46 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferret with cardiomyopathy
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I have a 5.5 yr.old ferret.He lost is cage mate a few months ago
and ever since then he hasn=B4t been as active and playful as he was
before, because of his depression he=B4s been apathic; so until we went
to the ER with him, there were no noticeable changes in behaviour.
I live in Spain, my vets are great dog/cat vets and are learning
about ferrets as much as they can and treat several; there are no
ferret expert vets, many are starting to treat them but not enough
experienced to be considered "experts"; so I'm looking for advice on
Bioko=B4s illness.
One night he was taking his paws to his mouth , and gagging he was
being so rough he was hurting himself, and then it looked like he was
chocking, so we called the vets and took him in right away.
Radiograph showed his heart was enlarged and organs had fluid
build-up; she gave him a diuretic ( Furosemide) by SQ.
Treatment:
She told us to give him the diuretic vials orally, twice a day, 0,5 ml
each take, we are now down to 0.4ml since thursday. The 2 ml solution
contains 20 mg of Furosemide. This was the best option since the pills
available were to be cut to an 8th.
We also give him Fortekor 5 (Benazepril hydrochloride). Dose is half a
pill on alternate days.
We went for several days on a daily basis for a check-up and one of
his doses of Seguril.
On several days on the way back, he'd start pawing his mouth and
salivating excessively; once it happed when the vet took him
downstairs to get weighted.
We think that he might be stressed because of the vet visits; he=B4s
very used to going to the vet as a "companion" when I take my dog or
other ferrets, I made sure to get him used to being in the clinic, and
examined ever since he was a kit , he was never stressed during
visits, and dooked, played and fell dead asleep constantly when
there.He=B4ll also let anyone handle him and loves being held by everyone.
This vet that is not treating him is "new" to him since the one that
used to treat my ferrets in on maternity leave; he had never shown
signs of stress before and his very calm during check-ups, just in
case this last days she=B4s been checking on him on the phone and
spacing the visits.
They did an ecography last week and it showed heart was dilated.
First days after this first episode he was weak, now some days, he
wants to dook and dance when playing on the bed or couch, but I always
pick him up when he does.
He has a 2 level Ferret Nation to himself since his cagemate died.I
have closed off the bottom level and taken the half level off since he
never used the ramps to go up. Litter box is low and easy for him to
get in/out.
He=B4s had a few episodes at home, he always wants to be held when he
takes his paws to his mouth and salivates,it looks as if he had
something caught, after he=B4s drained and falls asleep on my lap a
couple times he breathed a either bit heavily or fast but goes back
to normal after some time.
Ever since he fell sick he=B4s been eating duck soup, several takes a
day. I=B4m weighting his kibble to check how much he eats, but so far
not much. I=B4ve tried getting him back to kibble but so far no luck.
He=B4s keeping his weight and eats with energy, but since he=B4s always
been spoiled with soup sometimes he wont eat it on his own and waits
until I sit him on my lap and use a spoon.
Any advice on care/nutrition/treatment would be greatly appreciated!
:)
Monica
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