Message Number: YG11681 | New FHL Archives Search
From: daneedv@aol.com
Date: 2002-03-06 10:58:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Chloe's wobbly back end

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "shen10" wrote:
> Dear FHL friends,
>
> I am writing to ask for advice about Chloe. She is about 6
years old and her back legs have become wobbly and unreliable
in the past week.
>
> Any other advice?
>

There are a number of things that can cause hind end weakness.
Was her blood glucose checked? Perhaps she has Insulinoma.
A shot of cortisone might improve the symptoms temporarily, if
that is the case.
However, as I ask with any ferret with hind end weakness
problems, has she been tested for ADV? If she was tested, by
which test? Currently, there have been some reported problems
with the POCT test from Avecon, and the company is looking
into the problem. There have definitely been some recent
cases of ferrets testing negative with the POCT, though, only
to learn by other tests that they are positive. Therefore, if
she was tested by POCT, it might be wise to retest using
another method, to be sure.
Again, if the hind end problems were caused by ADV, a shot of
cortisone might improve the problem temporarily. Many ADV+
ferrets with hind weakness respond to treatment with a
steroid.
An ADV test is a lot cheaper then an MRI, and it is a good
idea to test all ferrets.

Danee
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit
http://www.geocities.com/russiansmom