From:
Pam Sessoms
Date: 2001-08-25 11:25:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Amputation: at hock or stifle?
Hey all,
Thanks so much for the replies so far!! Ordinarily I'd give a little more
time before following-up, but with surgery on Monday, I'm trying to push
along kind of quickly.
So far, the pattern seems to be:
A) Ferrets *do* use the longer stump if it is present.
B) The ferrets with these longer stumps lost the foot in kit-hood, either
born without it or lost it to an over-zealous mother. There is one that
I'm not sure of that I'm waiting to hear back about. There are no
reported problems with irritation at the stump in these ferrets. I
haven't heard from anyone yet with an adult ferret who underwent a foot
amputation.
C) We know that in adult dogs and cats, it is usual to take the entire
leg because of problems with ulceration and irritation at the stump. And
these animals get along fine with only one hind leg. I'm kind of hoping
that since ferrets are so light and have such tough skin, that the problem
with ulceration and irritation isn't such an issue with them.
OK, remaining questions:
Does anyone have an adult ferret who underwent a rear leg or foot
amputation? If so, and the long stump was left (amputation at hock), are
there problems with irritation/ulceration? If the entire leg was
amputated, can the ferret get up on its remaining foot, with back up and
arched properly, with only the one leg?
Right now, this little girl slides and paddles with her legs out behind
her, but hopefully she'll be able to get up once she's had her surgery.
Sorry for all the questions! Thanks again for the replies so far, and
thanks in advance for any more!
Best wishes,
-Pam S.