I'm not a vet but Tigger's symptoms don't sound like anything I've seen
with my guys.  BUT, just in case (or for others going through this):
 
>The key to dealing with cardio, in my opinion, is regular visits to the
>vet, including periodic Xrays, and maintenance meds.  Also to be aware
>of coughing spells, which may call for a change in medicines.
 
I second this!  Just be ready to watch him closely and be responsive to
changing meds as symptoms change.  Having lived with many, many ferrets
that had heart disease, this is absolutely the key.  Please remember that
fluid buildup in the lungs caused by the heart not being efficient is a
killer!  Not only can the ferret suffocate but persistent fluid can cause
pneumonia.  I found Lasix to be a miracle drug!  As is enalapril (enacard).
 
>Granted, Tigger's life span will probably not be as long as your other
>fuzzies
 
Dancing Bear lived to be almost 8 years old and he had heart disease for
the last 32 months of his life.  He required massive doses of lasix to keep
fluid out of his lungs.  I have two others right now who have been on heart
meds for about 30 months and they are both 6.5 years old.  Two others lived
for 18 months with heart disease and were about 6 years old when they died.
This is a good lifespan (not great, but good) for any ferret.  But a couple
only lived for a few months and they were actually my younger ones.
 
>I don't know that 2 years would be considered an older ferret, but I'm
>sure there's room for debate on ages.
 
Heart disease can strike even young ferrets.  Watch for heavy breathing
when asleep or coughing.  Baretta died at the tender age of 14 months from
cardiomyopathy.  The vet thought it was bronchitis and he was being treated
for that.  When the emergency clinic did an x-ray, we knew immediately.
Exactly 45 minutes later, he suddenly died - before we could even call in
the heart specialist at Washington State University.
 
Here's what the necropsy said:
 
Heart.  Nine sections of heart have severe degenerative changes in the
myocardiun.  Lesions are present in sections of right ventricle, septum,
left ventricle, and atria.  Lesions are predominantly confined to the
inner third of the myocardium.  Affected myofibers are pale, vacuolated,
and lack cross striations.  Some fibers are dilated with a single large
vacuole which frequently contains pale eosinophilic granular material.
Rare mineralization of degenerated fibers is seen.  Purkinje cells are
also affected.  A variable amount of fibrous connective tissue (abundant
in some areas) separates degenerating fibers.  In one section of left
ventricle an area of hypocellular dense fibrous connective tissue is
present just deep to the epicardium.  Lymphocytes and macrophages are
scattered throughout affected areas.  Hyperplastic changes are not seen.
 
Lung.  Four sections of lung have frequent foamy macrophages within
alveoli.  A single focus of osseous metaplasia is present in one section.
 
Liver: Three sections of liver have centrilobular congestion.  The walls of
central veins are markedly thickened.  Mild diffuse vascuolar degeneration
of hepatocytes is present in all sections.
 
Additional tissues examined and considered to be histologically normal
include: brain, trachea.  thyroid gland, spleen, gastrointestinal tract,
pancreas, kidney, urinary bladder, adrenal gland and lymph node.
 
COMMENTS: Severe degeneration of the myocardium is consistent with a
diagnosis of cardiomyopathy.  Severe fibrosis along conduction pathways
likely led to conduction abnormalities in addition to the compromised
myocyte function.  Lesions in the lung and liver reflect both left and
fight heart failure.  Cardiomyopathy has been previously described in the
ferret (see attached article).  Thank you for submitting this interesting
case.  Tissue samples are being saved in the WADDL freezer for one month
if further evaluation is desired (taurine levels).
 
WORK PENDING: None
 
HISTOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS.
 
1.  Heart, severe degenerative cardiomyopathy
2.  Lung, pulmonary edema with medial hypertrophy of pulmonary vessels
3.  Liver, centrilobular congestion with central venous fibrosis
[Posted in FML issue 3254]