>My five year old gib, Teddy had an echocardiagram performed about a month
>ago.  It showed a mild mitral valve insufficiency and a mild increase of
>the left atrium.  He is not on any meds at this time.  He is also showing
>signs of early adrenal.  Slight thinning of fur on his back feet and tail,
>and a really coarse coat.  Occasionally, I have also seen him bite his
>cage buddy on the back of the neck.
>
>My question is: Is it safe to do adrenal surgery on a ferret with mild
>heart problems?  Will it extend his life at all, since he has the heart
>trouble?  Would it be better to do the Lupron injections for the rest of
>his life?
 
I wouldn't.  Current speculation among ferret vets is that subclinical
unknown heart disease may play a big factor in post-operative deaths.  I
prefer not to mess with known heart disease unless I have no choice in
the matter.
 
>I want to do what's best for my ferret, but I don't want to put him
>through surgery if he could possibly die during the procedure, or if it
>won't increase his life expectancy.  I do think the Lupron or surgery
>would improve the quality of his life,in the long run.
>
>Right now, he's a happy camper.  He sleeps a little longer, and is a
>little slower getting started when he wakes up, but he still plays and
>enjoys a good romp with the rest of the crew.
>
>Also, my vet is very reticent to perform surgery on ferrets with heart
>murmurs, having lost some during or after their procedure.
 
I completely understand that!  I'd go for the lupron, personally.
 
-Dr. Karen
 
DISCLAIMER:
This e-mail is provided for general informational purposes only.  It is
in no way intended as a replacement for a consultation with a qualified
licensed veterinarian.  If you are concerned about your pet's health, you
should seek the advice of your regular veterinarian as soon as possible.
 
----
 
>I want to do what's best for my ferret, but I don't want to put him
>through surgery if he could possibly die during the procedure, or if it
>won't increase his life expectancy.  I do think the Lupron or surgery
>would improve the quality of his life,in the long run.
 
I have done surgery on ferrets with heart disease - but you have to
understand that any surgery comes with risk and that doing surgery on a
ferret with heart disease, even mild disease, has an increased risk over
one that doesn't.  In a five year old ferret, if he were my own, and the
heart was stable (which it sounds like it is), I probably would go ahead
with surgery, but I would be prepared for possible problems.  Lupron is
definitely an option.
 
Dr. Ruth
[Posted in FML issue 3444]