Heart Disease
As ferrets age, cardiac disease becomes an important problem. There are several different forms of heart disease that can occur in ferrets. These are:
Symptoms of heart disease in ferrets include: weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, weight loss, fainting, trouble breathing, and rarely coughing. The weakness associated with heart disease needs to be distinguished from weakness associated with insulinoma, another common disease in older ferrets. A blood glucose reading should help identify an insulinoma. On physical exam, a heart murmur or fluid sounds in the lungs may be noted. Chest x-rays or a heart ultrasound should be done to identify the presence and type of heart disease.
Treatment will depend on what phase of heart disease your ferret is in. Asymptomatic ferrets that have a heart murmur may only need to be monitored or may need medication. Treatments for ferrets in heart failure include oxygen therapy, diuretics, medications to help decrease the circulating blood volume and ease the load on the heart, and medications to make the heart beat more effectively. Dietary therapy may be needed to reduce the sodium in the diet. Frequent monitoring should be done to make sure medication is working.
Heart disease is not a curable problem, but with medication can be managed over time to allow your ferret a happy, full life. Eventually, medications will stop helping and humane euthanasia will sadly be needed.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy - this occurs when the heart muscle stretches and weakens, preventing the heart from making full contractions.
- Heartworm disease - ferrets are susceptible to heartworms, and just one worm can cause tremendous disease from inflammation in the lungs and mechanical blockage of blood flow through the heart. All ferrets should be on a monthly heartworm preventative.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - this occurs when the heart muscle actually thickens to the point where blood cannot be effectively pumped through the heart.
- Chronic valvular disease - though less common, this is the same type of heart disease that occurs in smaller older dogs, where the valves in between the chambers of the heart undergo aging changes. With these changes, the valves do not shut properly and blood flows backwards through the heart, leading to a dilated heart muscle.
Symptoms of heart disease in ferrets include: weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, weight loss, fainting, trouble breathing, and rarely coughing. The weakness associated with heart disease needs to be distinguished from weakness associated with insulinoma, another common disease in older ferrets. A blood glucose reading should help identify an insulinoma. On physical exam, a heart murmur or fluid sounds in the lungs may be noted. Chest x-rays or a heart ultrasound should be done to identify the presence and type of heart disease.
Treatment will depend on what phase of heart disease your ferret is in. Asymptomatic ferrets that have a heart murmur may only need to be monitored or may need medication. Treatments for ferrets in heart failure include oxygen therapy, diuretics, medications to help decrease the circulating blood volume and ease the load on the heart, and medications to make the heart beat more effectively. Dietary therapy may be needed to reduce the sodium in the diet. Frequent monitoring should be done to make sure medication is working.
Heart disease is not a curable problem, but with medication can be managed over time to allow your ferret a happy, full life. Eventually, medications will stop helping and humane euthanasia will sadly be needed.