From:
"Bruce Williams, DVM"
Date: 2007-01-28 16:14:31 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Cardiomyopathia
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "busch308" <busch308@...> wrote:
>
> My older (5yo) boy Dusty has recently been diagnosed with
> Cardiomyopathia. The Doc has him on Benazapril (Once Daily),
> Theophyline (Every eight hours) and Prednisolone (As needed for
> wheezing). He said that Dusty's lungs are about 20% scar tissue as
> well and that medication is about all that can be done.
>
> Can anyone else tell me more about what can be done to help him? I
> know that Ferrets for Dummies recommends limiting him to strict
> playing times and seperating him from his brother and sister. Also a
> low sodium diet. I can't for the life of me keep him locked up in a
> cage all the time while the other two run and play.(As long as
> someone is home they are free to roam.) That would probably kill
> him. And I don't know what to do about lowering his salt intake.
> Any suggestions?
>
Well there is some good and some not so good advice here.
First, cardiomopathy is a common problem in our ferrets - I have lost
two to this dread disease over the years. You vet has identified one of
the three drugs that are used in cardiomyopathy - benzapril (or similar
preload reducing drugs.) However, there are two otehrs that form the
backbon of treatment for this diseaes - Lasix, a diuretic, and
digitoxin, which is used in later stages to help strengthen the heart
muscle's contract.
Did your vet take a chest X-ray. There is no way to say what
percentage of a ferrets lungs are scar tissue - even with a biopsy of
the lung, if it occurs, it is usually patchy. A more common cause of
whezing is fluid int he lung, which would show up on an X-ray, and
could (hopefully) be removed or lessened by the lasix. Fluid is far
more common in these cases tan scar tissue.
Regarding a low-soium diet, I have never heard of this in ferrets -
humans yes, ferrets no. Also regarding the restriction of exercise -
the key is reducing stress - ferrets with failing hearts are not
athletes - they regulated their own exercise. However adding stress
will shorten the lifetime and worsen response to therapy. REmoving him
from his brother and sister is a stressful move that is probably
contraindicated. He may want to play, but he will only do what he can
and no more. Anotehr key is making sure that h doesn't get to cold or
hot, or too hungry - these tpes of environmental stresses are far worse
than a little exercise.
REmember that we canot repair a eart - but by using the proper drugs at
the apppropriate times, we can slow the progress of the disease and
lengthen the animal's survival time.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
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