I have a male ferret, Dale, approximately 4 years old. I have had him for the past 14 months. When I got him he had been diagnosed with heart worm. Some time before this heart worm diagnosis he had very compromised use of his rear legs. It was felt that an embolism from the heart worm had caused this problem with his legs. He was taking 0.1 cc's of pred a day to lessen the risk of further damage from any heart worm that might break up. Since I have had him the pred has been reduced to 0.1 every other day.. He also is taking Ivermectin liquid once a month to prevent further heart worm infection and to help kill off any heart worm . The use of his rear legs never changed. On Jan 1 he experienced what appears to be a UTI and bladder infection and had to have a cath. installed to clear his bladder. It was removed immediately after his bladder was empty and he spent the night in hospital to receive sub Q fluids. He first was urinating blood and after he was put on amoxi drops he blocked. At the time of the blocked bladder an X ray was taken and showed one calcified heart worm still in his heart. His lungs were clear in the X ray. Before his Amoxi drops were finished he began retaining fluids in his rear legs and abdomen. (Before this fluid retention he zipped around the house and in and out of the tubes with the best of the crew.) He is now taking Lasix 1% solution .25 ml twice a day and Digitalis 15 mg/ml .05 ml also twice a day. The Digitalis was added last Saturday the Lasix the previous week. He is still retaining the fluid, although it seems to be a bit less. He is eating and drinking well but has great difficulty getting around for more than a few minutes.. NOW after this long background my question.. Would it help to change him from the Digitalis to Encard or another heart medication or to add another to the Digitalis? Do the doses sound correct or should they be modified? Could this small amount of pred. be contributing to the fluid retention? Thank you so much in advance, Maureen [Posted in FML issue 3314]