Introduction

• Most common acquired cardiac disorder.
• Cause: unknown.
• Signs: lethargy, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, exercise intolerance, respiratory distress, weak pulse, pulse deficit, hypother­mia, pallor, cyanosis, prolonged capillary refill time, posterior paresis, hepato-/splenomegaly and/or ascites, heart murmur, pulmonary edema.
• Diagnosis: echocardiography, ultrasonography, radiography, blood tests, urinalysis.
• Treatment: oxygen therapy, diuretics.
• Prognosis: limited data to provide an accurate estimation of the prognosis.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• The exact etiology is not known, ie idiopathic.
• Associations with taurine or carnitine deficiencies, as seen in cats and dogs, have been suggested, but could thus far not be confirmed in ferrets.
• Other causes reported in other animals and humans include pre-existing endocrine disease, intoxications or infectious disease, eg viruses.
• In one ferret, DCM was reported in association with a cryptococcal infection.
• Similar to humans, cats, and dogs, a genetic origin may also be present.

Pathophysiology

• Increased diastolic dimension and systolic dysfunction of the left and/or right ventricles, decreased contractility and diminished cardiac output -> renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) is activated, leads to sodium retention, fluid accumulation and volume overload.
• This results in an eccentric hypertrophy (dilatation) of the ventricle, valvular insufficiency and, once the disease progresses, signs of congestive heart failure, eg pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, ascites.

Epidemiology

• Not common in ferrets.
• When it occurs, it is highly associated with congestive heart failure.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Outcomes