Message Number: YG10092 | New FHL Archives Search
From: dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-01-13 23:19:00 UTC
Subject: Re: 2nd Post - Neurological problem?

Mike - don't want to have you post a third time -

Neuro cases such as these are exquisitely unrewarding. I am having
trouble getting a bead on this "shaking" or "tics" - could this be an
intention tremor, which would add a third differential to the list -
a degenerative condition. The history also doesn't mention if the
animal has always had this problem or if it is a recent development.
Is it getting worse with time (such as you might see with an
enlarging tumor?

Well let's see where we can go with this - toxoplasmosis has been
reported in the brain of the ferret, but those ferrets were normal,
and that is an extremely rare occurrence (not to say these shakes
aren't though.) Now Ehrlichia would be a first in a ferret.

Anyhow, the return on either a spinal tap or an MRI would be low
potential. Another very rare possibility (bordering on the
astonomical) would be a recovered case of distemper. Recovered
distemper cases in dogs often develop tics - (so called chewing-gum
fits) This one is way out there though.

Sorry can't be of much more help, but figuring out neuro cases even
when you have them in the clinic is tough enough, but over the Net
with minimal info - now that's really difficult.

Bruce Williams, DVM

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Michael Janke" <mjanke@m...> wrote:
> I received a call from someone in Kentucky that has a sick ferret
and is
> looking for some help with a diagnosis. The ferret has already been
to the
> local vet and the University of Tennessee. The owner is currently
unable to
> afford an MRI, which was suggested as the next step.
>
> I'm including a number of jpeg scans of Sassy's bloodwork and I'll
include
> comments below from the local vet and the U of T. The primary
symptom that
> the owner sees is that Sassy constantly shakes. This occurs at all
times
> except when in a very deep sleep. There is also some weakness and
> stumbling/falling over.
>
> The preliminary diagnosis by the U of Tenn. was... "Encephalitis or
Tumor."
> Their comments follow. The scan was difficult to read, so forgive
any
> slight errors...
>
> "Sassy has neurological problems. This could be secondary to a
tumor or
> inflammation of the brain. The inflammation could be caused by a
protozoa
> (Toxoplasma) or a bacteria (ehrlicia). Other causes are also
possible. At
> this time, please treat Sassy with Doxycycline and Clindamycin. The
next
> step would be a spinal tap and a brain scan."
>
> Sassy was treated with the two drugs for approximately two weeks
with no
> change in condition. In fact, the owner feels she has gotten
slightly
> worse.
>
> Sassy's local vet says...
>
> "This is what I have from U.T. [blood work attached] She was
referred down
> there for her muscle tremors/spasms. She looked to be having some
kind of
> "tic" rather than a seizure. She has some proprioceptive defects in
the rear
> legs especially the left. Her placing reflex is very slow in the
left rear.
> Disc space L 5-6 is narrowed but I don't think this is causing the
tics. We
> had scheduled an MRI, but was cancelled by [the client]."
>
> Any thoughts based on the above comments would be greatly
appreciated.
> Previously attached test result are not included with this message
but
> may be seen in post# 9955.
>
>
> mike