Folks,
While I'm not a cardiologist, and I do appreciate Gary's info, selenium
deficiency is not the only cause of cardiomyopathy.  Taurine deficiency,
inborn defects of the heart and other factors can cause this problem in
ferrets and other animals.  If none of the other doctors jumps on this one,
I'll try to bring my cardiology text home for some more complete info (btw,
the hospital now has a modem, and I should be closer to my resources when
answering posts soon!).
 
Hear disease is definitely one of those problems where being able to examine
the patient determines appropriate treatment.  Consult with a cardiologist
in conjunction with an echocardiogram is not a bad idea, either (I happily
have a traveling cardilogy specialist with ultrasound for these cases - it
is alot better for my patients to be in a familiar place, and I learn alot,
too!).
 
I wish you the best of luck, Peter.  Please keep us posted.
 
-Dr. Karen
 
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[Posted in FML issue 1536]