From:
cheekey18@hotmail.com
Date: 2001-04-10 06:58:00 UTC
Subject: Undiagnosed Hind leg weakness
Hi,
I bought a kit from a large pet store. It seemed very sweet but
it looked kind of small, the employee could not give me an exact age.
When I took the ferret home I noted hind leg weakness. It would
attempt to walk but fall to one side and wobbled. Thru research of
its teeth size I found out the ferret was aprox, 5-6 weeks old. I
notified the pet store of its weakness and age of ferret and let them
know of my concern. I was advised to feed the ferret a formula of
high protein and made a "super mush" in efforts that if it had a
weakness caused by not being appropriately weaned and or
malnourishment it would improve its overall health. I bought the
ferret wed. by fri, I had him in a vets office. He was not able to
give a exact cause for the weakness but said the the high protein
mush surely could not hurt and to wait 2 weeks, to see if it
improved. He also said otherwise he seemed totally healthy. Its now 2
weeks and he has doubled in size but the leg weakness persists.
Anatomically he looks sound, he does attempt to walk on both hind
legs but he ends up dragging himself, especially if he wants to run.
Doc suggests sedation and x-rays. But I'm not sure if I should do
this, the vet doesn't know if he will find the answer. Help! Has
anyone else experienced this kind of weakness. He does have sensation
in both hind limbs and his pelvis seems intact, hips equal in size
and has good ROM. Vets last words to me "you just may not have the
fastest ferret on the block." Any help will truley be appreciated. THX