From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-11-12 03:36:40 UTC
Subject: Sugar--Hand leg weakness
To: elseyg@optonline.net, ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Cc: northeastferrets@yahoogroups.com, carpetSharksInk@yahoogroups.com
Message-Id: <a05200f00b9f63ca1fb0a@[10.0.1.8]>
It is essential that she have a thorough veterinary work-up, of
course, but if that doesn't show anything worse that is wrong have
you considered that her having been kept in small box for months by
those who abused her may have caused significant muscular atrophy
(sarcopenia)? Years ago I worked with two juvenile chimps who had
been kept in squeeze cages and other small cages before arrival, one
for an extended period. When I finally convinced them that they
could come out into a room, Maynard could not walk unless he propped
himself against a wall. I let him build himself up doing that and
then once he trusted me enough and seemed stable enough I got him to
try moving away from the wall by laying in the center of the room and
spreading out my arms and legs as far as they would go so that he
could touch me for reassurance. If nothing worse is wrong it may
simply be that this ferret doesn't have enough muscle mass to
maintain balance on a slippery floor, and the correction for that is
a lot of gradually increasing exercise.
To: northeast ferret <northeastferrets@yahoogroups.com>,
ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, carpetSharksInk@yahoogroups.com
From: Gail Elsey <elseyg@optonline.net>
Message-id: <8020480.1037074259975.JavaMail.nobody@chromium>
Based on teeth, about 2-3 years old.
ADV negative (checked twice)
glucose is fine.
She was kept in a recycling box for months, and is terrified of her own
shadow. She doesn't walk very well on carpet, but on wood, she has
much, trouble. She falls over, slips and slides. Heck, she falls over if put
even a little bit off balance. She is skinny, but I am working on fattening
her up. BTW, she has yet to bite me. She got her ears and nails done
tonight, and didn't even flinch.
However, Larry was just watching her, and she stepped into the pan
under the plants (about a 1 inch lip). She couldn't get her back legs
back over. I am really worried. The vet found nothing wrong with her. I
have had her about 3 weeks (since the Parsippany Show). She was
rescued about 2 weeks before that. Any ideas?
Honestly, her leg weakness isn't getting better, IMHO
Gail