Coenzyme Q10

[darlene]

I've seen this supplement Coenzyme Q10 mentioned a few times on different ferret forums. Can anyone fill me in on what it's used for?

[Sushi La Fuchi]

I believe it's for Dialated Cardiomyopathy, if I'm not mistaken. According to Ferrets For Dummies the cause of the disease is unknown, but one of the possible causes could be a deficiency in Coenzyme Q10. I believe miamiferret2 uses it for her kiddos. She might be able to elaborate more on the subject.

[grimsqueaker]

I thought it was an anti-wrinkle cream ;D

[Sherry]

Definitely message miamiferret2. She can fill you in on that far better than I could.

[Heather]

We use it as a heart sup for wolfhounds. I've not used it with my Boris ( a little nervous of drug interactions, he's on a few heart meds) but I"m seriously considering it. He's up near the max dosage of lasix and there are days when it's not enough
ciao

[mustelidmusk]

CoQ10 is good for energy production, and it's an antioxidant as well. It's seems to be good for the heart, although any such evidence is not overwhelmingly conclusive. CoQ10 will not prevent cardiomyopathy.

WARNING: CoQ10 may lower blood sugar!!!!!!!

While we do not fully understand what causes cardiomyopathy in ferrets, some lines of ferrets do have a "relatively high" incidence of the disease. A friend of mine bred for years. She had MANY, MANY ferrets (including rescues) over MANY, MANY years and rarely had any heart issues in her ferrets. All of the sudden, 4 cases of cardiomiopathy within her lines turned up within a 5-year period.....she had borrowed a hob for breeding, and it turned out that close examination of his lines revealed cardiomyopathy seemed get "passed on" through this single hob. My friend culled her lines (and stopped breeding altogether) to prevent further damage.

I have also heard this same story from other breeders, so I believe that most cases of cardiomyopathy are probably genetic, assuming a ferret has a good diet and is otherwise healthy. With really old ferrets, cardiomyopathy may be part of "old age" or related to other disease processes. . But from what I have seen , I suspect genetics play a strong role in cases that occur in younger ferrets.

-jennifer

[miamiferret2]

yes I use COQ10 and i have been using it in my ferrets since the late 90's when one of my ferts was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. I was desperate one day and I called gary holowicki (timmy's tonic guy) and he recommended that i try it. i believe that it did help my ferret. I also started to add in taurine right about that time and i continue to give that. i prob give about 15 mg every other day. something like that. hard to tell bc they come in these little gel capsules. i bugger the capsules then i squeeze some out in my hand and he licks it right up!

[darlene]

Thanks guys