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Please note: I am not a ferret expert, and I did not write, nor did I
independently verify, all the information in this file. I have done
my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot
guarantee that what is contained in this file, whether written by me
or by one of the contributors, is correct, or even that following the
advice herein won't be harmful to you or your ferret in some way. For
advice from an expert, you may wish to consult one of several books
available, or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem,
a veterinarian who is familiar with the treatment of ferrets.
FERRET MEDICAL FAQ - CARDIOMYOPATHY
Last modified: 16 Mar 95
Version: 1.2
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS
*** Cardiomyopathy ***
(1) Cardiomyopathy in the Ferret (Dr. Williams)
(2) Cardiomyopathy (Dr. Brown)
(3) Ferret Medical FAQ copyright and redistribution information
------------------------------
Subject: (1) Cardiomyopathy in the Ferret (Dr. Williams)
Dr. Bruce Williams, DVM, writes:
In short, CMP is a congenital problem in some lines of ferrets that
manifests as ferrets get older. CMP means that the muscle of the
heart becomes progressively weaker, and the heart is no longer strong
enough to pump all of the blood. As the muscle weekens, it
stretchess, and the heart gradually enlarges, sort of like a balloon.
As the blood begins to back up, it will accumulate both within the
lung and around the lung (often also in the abdominal cavity),
resulting in coughing, which is the most commonly noticed sign.
Actually, most animals have decreases in activity first, as they tire
easily.
CMP can be treated with some drugs, including diuretics which help it
manage the load, but the damage is progressive and cannot be reversed.
Concerning CMP - the vast majority of cases are probably due to
genetics. CMP is seen in Boxers, Great Danes, and Dobermans - each of
these breeds has their own specific type. CMP also runs in family
lines in humans. While viruses have been incriminated in humans, I
have not seen lesions resembling pre-existent viral infections in the
ferrets with CMP that I have seen.
The following article may be reprinted by anyone desiring to
disseminate this information in a newsletter or non- commercial
publication. This material may not be altered or changed in any way.
Under Title 17 of the U.S. Code, Section 105, copyright protection is
not available for any work of the United States Government.
CARDIOMYOPATHY IN THE FERRET
Cardiomyopathy is a common cause of heart disease in a number
of companion animals, including dogs, cats, and as many owners and
breeders know, our little friend, the ferret. The word cardiomyopathy
comes from three Greek words meaning, literally, "a disease of the
heart muscle", and that, unfortunately, sums up much of what we know
of this disease.
The cause of cardiomyopathy in the ferret, as well as in the
dog and the cat, is unknown. In humans, where cardiomyopathy was
first diagnosed and has been studied most extensively, this is also
largely the case, although some types of cardiomyopathy may occur as a
result of pre-existing endocrine diseases, viral disease, toxicities
(including alcoholism), and nutritional deficiency (Robbins, 1989).
There is one cause of cardiomyopathy that has been elucidated in the
cat, and although it has not been definitely linked in the ferret, may
be of importance - taurine deficiency. (This is just another reason
why you should make sure that your ferrets food includes taurine -
make sure to check those labels on the bag of food.)
Cardiomyopathy in the ferret is an insidious disease - the
majority of the damage to the heart occurs long before the owner ever
realizes that the animal is ill. The general defect in all types of
cardiomyopathy is the same - death of cardiac muscle fibers, which are
then replaced with scar tissue. Scar tissue does not have the ability
to conduct electrical impulse or to contract like heart muscle fibers
can. As more and more myofibers are lost, the heart weakens and can
no longer pump blood efficiently. This results in the two clinical
findings which are the hallmark of diagnosis of heart disease in the
ferret: a) an enlarged heart, and b) a "backing up" of the blood due
to the weakened heart's inability to pump it effectively (resulting in
a syndrome known as "congestive heart failure" - explained below.)
When the blood backs up in the ferret it may go to a number of
places - it may back up into the abdomen, resulting in a swollen,
fluid-filled belly. Additionally, it may back up into the space
around the lungs or into the lungs themselves. If fluid backs up into
the lungs, the ferret may initially show a soft cough. As the fluid
buildup progresses, the cough may worsen, and the owner will generally
notice a sharp decrease in the animal's energy. In the end stages of
the disease, ferrets have marked difficulty in breathing, often as a
combination of the fluid in the lungs and the fluid in the abdomen
(which presses on the diaphragm, impeding the ferrets' breathing even
further). This is what is known as congestive heart failure.
I have also seen cases of a different type of cardiomyopathy
in a handful of ferrets, a type of cardiomyopathy which is also seen
in cats and is known as "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy". In this
disease, there is an overgrowth of fibers in the heart, which encroach
upon the inside diameter of the heart, and in this manner, decrease
the heart's effectiveness in pumping the blood presented to it. The
clinical signs of this type of cardiomyopathy are identical to the
congestive type which has already been discussed.
Diagnosis of the disease is difficult in the early stages, but
becomes progressively easier as the disease goes along. All of the
signs (enlarged heart, fluid in the abdomen or around the lungs) can
be seen on a radiograph (or "x-ray"), and this is the primary method
by which affected animals are diagnosed. Specialized tests, such as
echocardiography, are available at some veterinary hospitals, and can
help pinpoint cases earlier in the disease's progression.
We have discussed that cardiomyopathy is an insidious,
progressive disease; there is no cure for cardiomyopathy, only
treatment. The hallmark of treatment of this type of heart disease is
two-fold: you must first decrease the amount of fluid built up in
abnormal locations, and second, increase the strength of contraction
of the heart. Diuretics are used to mobilize the excess fluid from
the abdomen and lungs, and to keep the blood volume at a level which
the weakened heart can pump it. Digitalis and related drugs help
increase the strength of contraction of the remaining heart muscle to
help it pump more effectively. In early cases, management of fluid
volume with diuretics may be the only treatment necessary, with
digitalis and like drugs held in reserve for the time when the heart
becomes weaker.
However, not all animals respond well to treatment. Dr. James
Fox, in his book Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, reports that even
when treated, the clinical course is fairly rapid, and treatment
failures are common. This enforces the need to monitor your pets
closely and bring any suspicions that you may have to the attention of
your veterinarian immediately.
1. Robbins SL, Cotran RS and Kumar V. Pathologic Basis of Disease.
W.B. Saunders and Co., Philadelphia, 1989. p. 634-638.
2. Fox, JL. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret. Lea and Febiger,
Philadelphia, 1988, pp 268-269.
3. Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmer. Pathology of Domestic Animals, vol 3.
Academic Press, San Diego, 1985, pp. 26- 29.
Bruce Williams, DVM
williamb@email.afip.osd.mil
------------------------------
Subject: (2) Cardiomyopathy (Dr. Brown)
Dr. Susan Brown, DVM, writes:
We see far less cardiomyopathy than we used to before the started
adding taurine to the cat food diets.