From:
Angela Espinet
Date: 2002-01-02 23:28:00 UTC
Subject: Back injury!
Hello Debbie,
Sorry I am not able to recommend a vet but thought
I might help with a little advice! It certainly sounds
as if your ferret could have injured his spine and is
probably losing the ability to feel his bowel
movements being expelled, so therefore you will need
to keep him very clean! Why don't you put some paper
towels on top of the newspapers and it will be a
little more sanitary! Or towels that you can just pick
up and wash!
One thing you will need to watch for is, if he is
expelling his urine, you may have to express the urine
several times a day if he isn't and your vet will need
to show you how!
He is sleeping more than usual because he is
extremely sore and most likely has a lot of swelling
in there, he needs to rest, but one concern that
surfaces in your post, is the fact he is not drinking!
You will need to start giving him fluids very quickly
as he will dehydrate rapidly and also some babyfood to
help him while he recuperates! It will be easier for
him to eat and digest and since it contains fluid, it
will aid in the battle of keeping him hydrated!
I have had several ferrets that have had injuries
to the spine and were no longer able to walk, it
usually means that you will have to continue
expressing the bladder, if the injury is irreparable!
I have one little ferret with me now that has a broken
back and has been like it for 2 years, she is
wonderful and gets around famously, plays with my cats
and in general is an extremely happy little ferret!
Now when I first got Hiedi after her accident, she
was extremely depressed and needed feeding etc. for a
couple of weeks until her soreness had worn off and
she was able to move around, we even took her to a
veterinary neurologist and he said the damage was
irreparable! So having had 3 ferrets with similar
problems and knowing how they can still enjoy life,
we decided that Hiedi, only 4 months old at the time,
would stay with us!
You will need to give your little fella a lot of
TLC and hopefuly he will mend soon---Angela.
PS--- hope you will put 'complete floors' in that
cage, we hear all the time how ferrets break their
backs or legs etc.. falling off those shelves!
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