Hi Andrea, I deal alot with cardiomyopathy in humans, and that condition in and of itself can be the reason for your pookie's thin hair. The heart has to work harder to pump the blood to the body, and unfortunately, your ferrets hair is not considered as valuable a function as say, his kidneys or liver. The one thing you need to watch for with him is fluid retention, keep an eye on his intake as occasional "lazy" lapses of that thicker heart muscle could cause him to retain fluid in his lungs. I'm sorry I cannot help with the Diltiazem dosing but with humans at least it is now the drug of choice over propranalol, due to less side afects like decreased heart rate, etc. And it's longer acting meaning less doses for you to have to give. Anyhow, if his workup has been thorough the hair loss is just due to oxygen stinted from that integumentary system to more important functions. I take it that it's just evenly finer than normal? Good luck with him and lots of lovies from the gang in NJ! Michele and the gang! [Posted in FML issue 0838]