Le patologie cardiache nel furetto: mito o realtà
Authors
Pelizzone I.
Libero professionista, Ambulatorio Veterinario Belvedere (Reggio Emilia)
Di Ianni F.
Dipartimento di Salute Animale, Sez. Clinica ostetrica e riproduzione animale, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli studi di Parma
Summary
Cardiac disease is common in middle-aged and older domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). The most important factor for indentifying cardiac disease in these animals is the understanding of normal physiology in that species. Often clinical signs of cardiac disease are aspecific and physical examination is very difficult so history and signalament became very important.
There are several test that should be performed on a ferret with suspected heart disease. Standard two-view radiographs are generally necessary in the diagnosis of heart disease. Electrocardiography can provide important information but can be difficult to perform in most ferrets and echocardiography is the most important part of the cardiac workup in the ferret. Ferrets can suffer of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and heartworm disease. In general treatment for heart disease in ferrets follows the same therapeutics guidelines used in dog and cats. Pharmacokinetic studies have not been done for cardiovascular drugs in ferrets.
Keywords
ferret, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, heartworm disease, heart disease, electrocardiography, echocardiography, radiographs
