From:
sukiecrandall@telocity.com
Date: 2001-11-15 18:22:00 UTC
Subject: Re: URGENT HELP NEEDED
We also have not had a spinal injury, but we have had one with
spinal malignancy and can tell you two things that helped her
cope. *****Clear them first with your vet for several reasons: for
now they likley want your little one to be quiet so racing around is
likely to be counter-indicated, and because healing might
progress enough that anything as extreme as a travel chair
might not be needed.*****
The first aide to discuss is a pantyhose sling. Chose panty hose
according to the height of the person using it to avoid stooping
your backs. You can even color-code them by user. Swe the feet
together to form a flat hammock area for the ferret's belly to rest
on. Roll the top and sew it to form a handle. Place hammock
area under ferret's belly and you're in business.
For a travel chair check into the website http://www.doggon.com ;
if that doesn't work it's some configuration upon that.
(Yes, I like Niven and Pournelle's able term "travel chair"; makes
the result so happily obvious...)
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Mike Janke" <mjanke@m...> wrote:
> 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?