Cardiomyopathy in Hedgehogs

Cardiomyopathy has been reported postmortem in hedgehogs, but there have been no published reports of its treatment. This report detailed the diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a 1-year-old African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) that presented in severe respiratory distress after 1 week of nighttime coughing and decreased appetite. The hedgehog weighed 175 g and was cyanotic, dyspneic, tachypneic, and laterally recumbent with a thin body score and harsh lung sounds.  

The patient was stabilized in a heated oxygen cage before intramuscular sedation with butorphanol and midazolam for radiographs, which showed generalized cardiomegaly and severe pulmonary edema. Echocardiogram revealed markedly decreased systolic function, an increased left-ventricular internal dimension, and an enlarged left atrium consistent with DCM.

Treatment was initiated with furosemide 5 mg/kg IM q6h and enalapril 1 mg/kg PO q24h. The patient showed vast clinical improvement over 12 hours, with radiographic resolution of edema at 24 hours. l-carnitine (50 mg/kg) and pimobendan (0.3 mg/kg) were added, both PO q12h. Furosemide was decreased to q8h. Although the patient appeared clinically normal 10 days later with echocardiographic improvement in cardiac contractility, it was found dead at home 1 month after presentation and was not presented for necropsy. Because of the high incidence of cardiomyopathy in hedgehogs, practitioners are encouraged to establish baseline cardiac data when patients are young.

Commentary

Heart disease is not limited to domestic animals. A 2011 informal review of records from an exotic animal practitioner identified heart disease in at least 20% of all avian patients; this statistic should be considered when evaluating any other species. However, cardiac tissue has similar structure, properties, and response to therapy across species, thus strengthening the principle of One Medicine. Not only should heart disease be considered in exotic patients with suggestive presentations, but the attending veterinarian should be confident about successful management.—Adolf Maas, DVM, DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian)

Source

Diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy in a hedgehog. Delk KW, Eshar D, Garcia E, Harkin K. J SMALL ANIM PRACT 55:174-177, 2014.