From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2011-10-14 04:46:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Odie's low heart rate followup
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi, Renee,
> There is not an EKG option. He lies very still, but even then there is
> enough artifact that they can't read the EKG well enough to determine what
> node block exists, if any. Do we go ahead and treat with something specific
> and hope for the best? Is there a safer protocol to try first? Any idesa? As
> my vet says, right now it is a shot in the dark.
Gee, "a shot in the dark" or similar metaphors seem to be the rule of
the day when treating ferret heart disease. I think our vet use the
exact same words for what we did for Zephyr. The third mix of
medications worked for her so hopefully some medication or combination
of medications will work for Odie as well.
You are treating for a specific symptom rather than the cause but the
net result is the same: you need to increase Odie's heart rate to
something over 100. Normal for a ferret is ~212 but over 100 seems to
be enough to sustain a fair amount of activity. Anyway, it's the goal
our vet set for Zephyr so I assume what Odie needs will be similar.
Aminophylline or theophylline should do that. One is a salt of the
other so they are very similar and work essentially the same way.
Our vet had me buy an inexpensive stethoscope to monitor Zephyr's
heart rate. The big issue with aminophylline is that it only lasts
about two hours for Zephyr. That's why our vet added a second, longer
lasting medication. She had good results with isoproterenol in the
past but it wasn't available. She used metaproterenol instead and
that has worked for Zephyr. When both the aminophylline and the
metaproterenol are in Zephyr's system her heart rate is consistently
over 100. (It was 128 during playtime earlier tonight.) It's lower
when the aminophylline wears off but not nearly as low as it got when
she was unmedicated. When she wakes up we give Zephyr the
aminophylline mixed in some gravy and that gives her the boost she
needs when active. Your vet may need to do something similar for
Odie.
These drugs are not without side effects. Zephyr startles easily and
intermittently gets little spasms. They don't seem to bother her much
and the medications have restored Zephyr's ability to explore and
play. She doesn't have the energy she used to or the stamina and she
does get wobbly at times but mostly she seems to have a fairly decent
quality of life. She's got a brand new, beautiful fall coat and there
are times she seems almost normal. She has a good appetite and
doesn't seem to have any pain or discomfort. Hopefully you can get a
similar result with Odie. It's certainly worth a try so long as he's
not suffering.
Good luck to you and to Odie.
All the best,
Caity with Chin Soon and Zephyr
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