From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-01-22 22:34:00 UTC
Subject: Re: knowledge on neurological problems
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "victoriacorr1" <VICTORI885@a...>
wrote:
He is more alert
> now, but he really still cannot use his back legs, and they shake
> sometimes. I still have to feed him. I feel really bad for this
> little guy. Is there anythinig else I can do? Hopefully, like the
> vet said, the cortizone will reverse his problem, but the only way
to
> really give him an accurate diagnosis is to have an MRI done. That
> would cost about $700/$800. I am a student, and I can't do that.
> Does anyone have any ideas?
Dear Victoria:
Neurologic diseases are by far the most frustrating cases in ferret
medicine. The skull is very much of a black box, and does not yield
clues easily. Marked changes are only rarely reflected in bloodwork
or other routine tests.
While an MRI would be handy, there is also a very good chance that no
definitive lesion will be found.
One thing to remember, though, is that ferrets are excellent
fighters, and many ferrets that people were tempted to give up on
recovered beyond anyone's expectation. Is it the treatment, or
simply the tincture of time - I'd like to say it was the steroids or
antibiotics I gave, but that might simply be a boast on my part.
I know your vet, and you are getting the finest care for ferrets
around - even better than at the vet school (and considerably cheaper)
I can imagine how frustrating it is, but I know that Stinky
appreciates all your efforts. Now if you can just come up with a
more sophisticated moniker,
Hang in there,
Bruce Williams, DVM