From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-08-06 17:34:33 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: High grade second degree AV block & pacemaker
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
An update on Linguini.
She has had 3 syncope episodes (faintings) that I have witnessed, may have had others I wasn't witness to. For those who are wondering these are very different from what you see with hypoglycemic episodes. They come on quite suddenly. One second the ferret is acting perfectly normal, the next second it is unconscious. It appears as though someone shot her, they go down that quickly. I don't know what is common in other such cases but in her case, she remains unconscious for only about 10-15 seconds at a time and then slowly comes around. Post-syncope she is extremely tired and generally crawls into a blanket.
The bad news we received yesterday is that the cardiologist we were hoping would do the echocardiogram/pacemaker is away on sabbatical for a year and the next visiting cardiologist won't be in the area before October.
While it is possible for me to take her to another cardiologist, before I travel 1000+ miles and find out that she is not a suitable candidate for a pacemaker, we are going to have a board certified veterinarian/radiologist do the echocardiogram. The results will be posted on VIN for feedback and if necessary a second echocardiogram will be scheduled for October with the travelling cardiologist.
For clarification the echocardiogram will rule out or confirm underlying heart pathology. If she has a diseased/damaged heart or vessels then she is not a viable candidate for a pacemaker.
In the interim she will be monitored regularly with EKGs to see how she is doing on the oral Sal-tropine.
Thanks everyone for the heads up on insulinoma. Her last BG in March was fine but will have it rechecked when she goes in for EKG on Monday - just in case its a contributing factor.
She did receive a Deslorelin implant last month, but at 6 she may very well have developed insulinoma.
Tressie
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