Message Number: YPG1048 | New FHL Archives Search
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




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/