Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is the death of cardiac muscle fibers (decrease in function) which gets replaced by scar tissue and can take on two forms: Dilated (most common) and Hypertrophic, which share same symptoms but different causes. Signs of heart failure include congestion, edema (fluid retention causing limbs to swell, build up in abdomen or around lungs, enlarged heart, low blood pressure, tiredness, and difficulty breathing. This disease is very hard to detect in the early stages, as it starts progressing, the respiratory rate and pulse increase, mucous membranes will appear purple or blue vs pink, and will have a slow capillary refill (press on the gums with your finger turning it white and release; will take 3+ seconds to return to pink color). There is no cure for Cardiomyopathy, treatment goal is to decrease fluid buildup and increase strength of heart contractions, extending life and providing quality.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy is also known as an enlarged heart and is the more common form of heart disease in ferrets. The heart muscles become stretched and lose the ability to contract with strength, resulting in only a small fraction of blood being pumped. The backing up of blood due to the decrease in pumping strength can back into the abdomen (swollen, fluid filled belly), lungs (initially soft cough which worsens, decrease in energy). At end stage (Chronic Heart Failure), it becomes very difficult to breath, often fluid in lungs and abdomen, which presses on the diaphragm. The heart will appear enlarged on x-rays, but additional tests should be run to rule out other illnesses which can cause enlargement.

Medical treatment is aimed at

• Increase strength of remaining heart muscle (Digitalis)

• Increase ability to contract allowing heart to pump more efficiently and lower peripheral blood pressure (Enalapril)

• Reduce fluid accumulation in lungs and keep blood volume at level heart is able to pump (Lasix)

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is an overgrowth of heart fibers which decreases the effectiveness in pumping the blood. The muscle walls of the ventricles become extremely thickened, reducing the size of the chamber the blood flow through. This disease is often diagnosed in much younger ferrets than DCM, and is harder to diagnose as no heart enlargement will be visible on x-rays, necessitating the use of Echocardiograms, Sonograms and ECG.

Medical treatment consists of:

• Calcium Channel-blockers (Diltiazem)

• Beta Blockers (Atenolol)

• Diuretics (Lasix)

• ACE Inhibitors (Enalapril)