From:
Mike Janke
Date: 2001-11-15 17:29:00 UTC
Subject: Re: URGENT HELP NEEDED
This is not something I've ever personally dealt with, but it sounds
like a spinal injury might be possible. I'd say an x-ray would be
the first thing to do to see if any abnormalities can be found.
If his tail is bottle-brushed and goes 'round and 'round when you
hold him up by his upper body, then I would not hold him like that!
It's probably pain that's causing the tail reaction.
You can ask your vet to show you how to express his bladder so he
doesn't leak constantly. I'm sure having a full bladder all the time
is not good or comfortable either.
There are others here who have dealt with paralyzed ferrets (Angela,
where are you!) and can probably tell you much more than I. The two
ferrets in the Miami shelter that were paralzyed in the hind legs
seemed pretty darn happy! But then, Angela took real good care of
them.
I don't know about the mouth sores or how that may be related.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Rae" <raee@c...> wrote:
> The vet gave him a steroid shot, hoping it would bring down
inflamation in
> case it was a pinched nerve, but she didnt feel comfortable
diagnosing him,
> the next best vet in town for ferts nly works on Mon Tues Wed...she
said the
> sores on his mouth look like a form of cancer, maybe lymphoma but
that
> wouldn explain the sudden loss of hind quarters. There is some
muscle
> control of hindquarters to bush tail and do like a helicopter
movement if
> your holding him by upper body, but no grabbing with back feet to
attach
> himself to your arm. No bladder control she said its just leaking
pee when
> it gets full... Im a total loss here....
> what are my options if it is a spinal injury or a cancer thats
spread to his
> back?