From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-06-11 16:35:56 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:How to deal with heartworm exposure
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
In a later private mail Dr. Murray said that the reintroduction of
Proheart wich has been so strongly desired in the ferret
community since it provides by far the best chance of survival
for ferrets who are infected by heartworm will happen late
this week.
Sadly, in the years that it was pulled there were ferrets who likely
could have been saved if that med could only have been gotten.
Now this med that is so badly needed to save ferrets with heartworm
will be reintroduced.
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/heartworm.htm
includes
BEGIN QUOTE
ProHeart is an injectable heartworm preventive administered every
six months. In the dog, it does not have the capability to kill adult
worms at the recommended dose. It does, however, kill all larval
stages of the worm. Since adult heartworms in ferrets tend to be
stunted and do not achieve the size and reproductive ability they
do in dogs, this may make them more susceptible to moxidectin
in the ferret.
I have used ProHeart in four heartworm-positive ferrets with excellent
results. All four ferrets not only survived, but thrived and tested
negative six to twelve months post-injection. All ferrets received a
single dose of 0.1 cc's regardless of weight.
Much more research is needed to prove consistent efficacy and safety,
but ProHeart is the best treatment option I have found to date.
END OF QUOTE
It had been removed during investigation into a few dog deaths to
see if those were unusual in relation to rates and the particulars of
the cases themselves. The investigation was independently and
expertly monitored and conducted.
THIS REINTRODUCTION WILL SAVE THE LIVES OF FERRETS. They
sorely need this medication to be available.
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, AFERRETVET@... wrote:
>
> The Idexx SNAP heartworm test (ie "the dog test") can
> be used in ferrets. However the Idexx well test that Idexx
> runs when you send blood samples into an Idexx lab is
> even more sensitive and accurate. Thus the best test
> is to have your vet send a blood sample into an Idexx lab
> for a heartworm test. If it is positive, then a treatment
> protocol (ie ivomec and pred or proheart 6) can be used.
> Remember heartworms in ferrets is usually fatal, so
> prevention is your best option. You can use Revolution,
> Advantage Multi, Interceptor, Heartgard, Proheart 6 or ivomec
> to prevent heartworms. Heartworms cause damage to the heart
> and when they die, they cause damage to the lungs. Both can
> be fatal to a ferret.
> Hope that helps,
> Jerry Murray, DVM
------------------------------------
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