From:
"hemfcf"
Date: 2010-08-31 03:30:43 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Babs, female ferret, rapid breathing/cardiac/lung issues, update
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I am glad to hear Babs is feeling better. I currently use pimobendan in one of my own ferrets. It, along with enalapril and very low dose furosemide, has worked well for him. You do have to remember that it can only be used with dialated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and is contraindicated for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM is not very common in ferrets but I own of my own had it. It can only be diagnosed via echocardiogram since it is the inside of the heart that enlarges/thickens. DCM generally shows an enlarged heart on a radiograph. Just be sure you have the correct heart condition prior to starting pimobendan.
Good luck,
Dr. Heather
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "merylfaulkner" <merylannefaulkner@...> wrote:
>
> Babs is now looking, behaving a little better. Her checkup yesterday(Saturday morning)went well. Her eyes are brighter, she is walking around with her usual waddle, still sleeping quite a bit, but eating well, and her Xray at the vet showed most of the fluid around her lungs has dissipated.
>
> The vet called me when the blood work results were done and suggested I reduce the lasix to 0.2 mls since her BUN and Creatinine were little elevated (high normal) (conc lasixis 10mg/ml). While rummaging through old meds in the fridge I was embarrassed to find I actually had used the drug I was questioning about previously - pimobendan - which I had been given for an 8 y.old ferret who died in March 2010 of several problems - Sienna. She had suddenly developed severe heart problems and was also given enalapril
>
> My vet mentioned at the checkup Saturday that she had used it on ferrets - both of us forgot that we used it on Sienna - who had been very sick. I sometimes forget that vets are human, have numerous other clients, and that my memory is not perfect either! The vet did mention that she uses the dog dose of pimobendan and says she has good results, but I gather in Babs case we're trying enalapril to begin with probably because she is earlier in the disease process.
>
> I'll keep updating on Babs as time goes on. Thanks to all who have sent me emails. The FHL is a great support/information system.
> Meryl
>
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