From:
hillcrestferrets
Date: 2002-05-10 18:04:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Back Injury/ care/more test ideas?
I just typed an answer for ten freaking minutes and yahoo lost it...
grrrr.
Sorry, this version will be shorter!
Earlier this year my ferret had a heavy mirror fall on him breaking
his hip in two places and possibly damaging his spine and spinal cord.
The most CRITICAL thing is to keep him still for as long as you can,
as long as he and you can stand it. If you make it two weeks, great!
Koda should also be on a steroid to help keep down the swelling in
the spinal cord. I don't have the bottle near the computer so I'm not
sure what was prescribed, but it is regularly used even in humans with
back injuries. It really helps!
I put my boy in a small carrier (a Martin's Barn), which was just
about big enough for a food and water dish, some bedding and a
litterbox. I used a small cat pan and cut out one side down to about
a half inch so he could get in and out without straining. I also went
to a fabric/craft store and got some regular quilt batting to put
under the bedding to make it feel more comfortable for him, minimizing
pain and discomfort which would make him move a lot.
I moved him into my bedroom away from the other ferrets so I could
keep an eye on him during the recovery period. I gave him a radio,
too, tuned to a classical station, to keep him company and keep him
interested. The first few days he was in a lot of pain and didn't
want to move, but after that he got bored and wanted out. I let him
walk around the house, but I supported his hind end so his back feet
and his back never moved. I also took him outside to look around and
sniff just so he wouldn't get so bored, so he would stay interested in
life.
He stayed like that for two whole weeks, I kept explaining to him he
had to stay still to heal, and I emotionally supported him a lot,
which I really think helped. Of course, he loves getting attention
from mom anyway, so he just ate up all the extra time I gave him.
After two weeks I left the carrier open so he could go in and out, but
I had him in a small pen so he couldn't move much but could at least
get out a little bit.
Now, he is fully recovered, running and jumping and playing and in
better shape with more energy than before the accident.
If you have any more questions or you need any other information or
you just want to talk, please contact me off list and I'll give you my
home information.
Ann Barzda
Hillcrest Ferrets