Re: Issue 841  Andrea Miralia
 
Andrea, for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy one may use Inderol at about 1/4 to
1/2 tab two times daily to vasodilate and reduce the workload on the heart.
 One may also use Vasotech (dose as for cat...have your vet fax my clinic at
708-344-8194 for more specific dose) once a day to also help reduce workload.
 Your pet should already be on a diuretic such as Lasix to reduce the fluid
buildup in the lungs.  We usually start at .10cc two times daily of the syrup
and increase as needed.  For dilatative cardiomyopathy one may wish to use
Digoxin instead of Inderol.. At the very minimum, we recommend that all
cardiomyopathies go on Lasix and Vasotech.  The only caution to using
Vasotech is if there is kidney disease (so have chemistry values run prior
including electrolytes to check this out).
The hair loss is still most likely adrenal disease.  The early disease in
ferrets does not cause an appreciable change in the size of the adrenal, so
you would not be able to detect it on the ultrasound.  The information from
the person in an earlier issue that deals with human  cardiomyopathy is
correct about decreased circulation to the skin, but in the ferret the NUMBER
ONE CAUSE OF HAIR THINNING AND LOSS IN THE NEUTERED PET IS ADRENAL
DISEASE!!!!!  We have ferrets that have such severe heart disease that they
have over one pound of fluid in their abdomens that accumulates and they
still have beautiful coats.  I wouldn't worry about the hair thinning right
now, just get the heart problem under control as much as possible.  You will
not be able to reverse the problem, only try to stabilize it and slow its
progression.
 
Susan Brown, D.V.M.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0845]