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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23176241

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2012 Dec 1;241(11):1484-9.
doi: 10.2460/javma.241.11.1484.

Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings in client-owned
ferrets: 95 cases (1994-2009).

Malakoff RL, Laste NJ, Orcutt CJ.

Source
Angell Animal Medical Center, 350 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130.

Abstract
Objective-To characterize echocardiographic and ECG findings in ferrets
(Mustela putorius furo) evaluated at a clinical practice.

Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-95 client-owned ferrets.

Procedures-Medical records of all ferrets that had a cardiac evaluation
(echocardiogram with or without ECG) performed between January 1994 and
November 2009 were reviewed. Data analyzed included signalment; primary
clinical sign or physical examination finding that prompted cardiac
evaluation; echocardiographic diagnosis; ECG diagnosis; radiographic
diagnosis (if radiographs were obtained within 1 month before or after
the echocardiogram); presence of congestive heart failure (CHF) defined
as pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, or ascites determined to be of
cardiac origin; and any available follow-up echocardiographic or ECG
diagnoses. Results-Valvular regurgitation (VR) was the most common
abnormal echocardiographic finding and was diagnosed in 49 of 95
ferrets, of which 44 had aortic VR, 24 had mitral VR, and 23 had > 1
valve affected. Congestive heart failure was diagnosed in 17 of 95
ferrets, which included all 4 ferrets that had dilated cardiomyopathy.
Of the 65 ferrets with ECG results, 26 had atrioventricular block, of
which 7 had third-degree atrioventricular block and 6 had CHF, syncope,
or weakness. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The most frequent
echocardiographic abnormality found in ferrets was VR, most commonly
affecting the aortic and mitral valves. Dilated cardiomyopathy was
infrequently diagnosed but was generally associated with CHF. The most
frequent ECG abnormality was atrioventricular block, and third-degree
atrioventricular block was often associated with CHF, weakness, or
syncope.
PMID: 23176241 [PubMed - in process]

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