Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Complete atrioventricular canal heart defect in a ferret case
By Agudelo, Carlos F et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2021·Small Animal Clinic·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A case of a complete atrioventricular canal defect in a ferret.
- Species:
- rodent
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old male ferret was brought to the vet because he was weak in his back legs, had trouble breathing, and wasn't eating well. The vet found a loud heart murmur and signs of heart enlargement on X-rays. Tests revealed a serious heart defect involving multiple holes in the heart. The vet treated him with oxygen and several medications to support his heart function. After some time in the hospital, the ferret started to improve, and follow-up visits showed his heart condition had stabilized.
People also search for: ferret heart murmur · ferret breathing problems · atrioventricular canal defect treatment in ferrets
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atrioventricular canal defect is a rare congenital disorder of the heart and describes the presence of an atrial septal defect, a variable presentation of ventricular septal alterations including ventricular septal defect malformations in the mitral and tricuspid valves. The defect has been described in human beings, dogs, cats, pigs, and horses. CASE PRESENTATION: This paper describes the case of a complete atrioventricular canal defect in a four-year-old intact male pet ferret (Mustela putorius furo), which was presented due to posterior weakness, ataxia, and decreased appetite. A loud systolic murmur, dyspnea, and hind limb paraparesis were detected during the clinical examination. Thoracic radiographs showed generalized cardiomegaly and lung edema. ECG showed sinus rhythm with prolonged P waves and QRS complexes. Echocardiography showed a large atrial septal defect, atrioventricular dysplasia, and a ventricular septal defect. Palliative treatment with oxygen, furosemide, spironolactone, enalapril, diltiazem, and supportive care was chosen as the therapy of choice. The ferret recovered gradually during hospitalization. A follow-up examination at three and six months showed stabilization of cardiac function. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors knowledge, this is the first time an atrioventricular canal defect has been described in a pet ferret.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33482816/