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Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about ferret health and wellness.
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from heart disease. In this article, you will learn what causes it, the most common symptoms, and which ferrets are most at risk.
What is Heart Disease?
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a form of heart disease in ferrets that causes damage to the heart muscle. The heart will enlarge and weaken, causing the heart to become less efficient at pumping. Some vets believe it is caused by nutritional deficiencies.
Symptoms:
Fluid build up in chest and belly
Low body temperature
Frequent rest during play
Decreased appetite
Coughing
Pale gums
Difficultly breathing
Most at Risk:
Ferrets over the age of 3 are most likely to develop heart disease. If a ferret is fed an improper diet, they are also more at risk.
How Do You Treat Ferret Heart Disease?
There is no cure or vaccine to prevent ferret heart disease. Ferrets with dilated cardiomyopathy can live 2-3 years after diagnosis with proper treatment.
Your vet will most likely perform an ultrasound to take a look at your ferret’s heart in order to confirm the diagnosis. If your ferret does in fact have dilated cardiomyopathy, their heart will look bigger and rounder than usual.
As with most diseases, the best thing you can do for your ferret is provide them with the healthiest diet you can afford, and keep stress to a minimum.
Affiliate Disclaimer: I sometimes earn a small commission for my links to products from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about ferret health and wellness. Welcome to the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Ferrets! This is Chapter 6: How Much Do Ferrets Cost? Let’s find out if you are ready for …
Affiliate Disclaimer: I sometimes earn a small commission for my links to products from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about ferret health and wellness. In this article you will learn where and how to ferret proof your kitchen. Want to learn about the most likely causes of …
Affiliate Disclaimer: I sometimes earn a small commission for my links to products from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about ferret health and wellness. I wish we could have caught Moose’s Insulinoma sooner. I would have learned more about how to prevent Insulinoma in ferrets before it …
Affiliate Disclaimer: I sometimes earn a small commission for my links to products from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about ferret health and wellness. We asked ferret owners from around the world this month to submit their best and most creative Halloween costumes for our Best Ferret …
Ferret Heart Disease: Symptoms and Treatment
Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about ferret health and wellness.
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from heart disease. In this article, you will learn what causes it, the most common symptoms, and which ferrets are most at risk.
What is Heart Disease?
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a form of heart disease in ferrets that causes damage to the heart muscle. The heart will enlarge and weaken, causing the heart to become less efficient at pumping. Some vets believe it is caused by nutritional deficiencies.
Symptoms:
Most at Risk:
Ferrets over the age of 3 are most likely to develop heart disease. If a ferret is fed an improper diet, they are also more at risk.
How Do You Treat Ferret Heart Disease?
There is no cure or vaccine to prevent ferret heart disease. Ferrets with dilated cardiomyopathy can live 2-3 years after diagnosis with proper treatment.
Your vet will most likely perform an ultrasound to take a look at your ferret’s heart in order to confirm the diagnosis. If your ferret does in fact have dilated cardiomyopathy, their heart will look bigger and rounder than usual.
As with most diseases, the best thing you can do for your ferret is provide them with the healthiest diet you can afford, and keep stress to a minimum.
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