From:
sstephenson@southviewanimalhospital.com
Date: 2003-06-17 20:35:05 UTC
Subject: RE: Glucopenia
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7497248.1055882105668.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi Dawn,
My first ferret, Reika, had insulinoma. When she has her first crash, it was a duzie. Her rear end was parlized for 6 months, and she wouldn't eat by herself for 2 months. She wouldn't take her meds and the only thing she showed any interest in was ferretvite. I did do some physical therapy on her for the 6 months. I just put her in my lap, on her back, and moved her legs in and out. I really don't know for sure that it did anything, but she did regain the use of her legs and lived another 3 years after that. She had several seizures after that but we always knew how to bring her back around and none of them were as bad as the first one. She never had surgery (my vet never even suggested it) and didn't go on pedia-pred till the last year of her life.
Hope it helps!
Sharon
Author wrote:
> Is there any information available, either researched or anecdotal about
> untreated insulinoma resulting in permanent paresis and/or paralysis? My vet has
> consulted a specialist at Angell Memorial and this is the conclusion that
> we've all come to. I understand that the results are permanent but any small
> thing that would help either diet or physical therapy might make even a minute
> difference.
> Also if anyone could recommend a better cage for a ferret with limited
> mobility that would be helpful. All of my cages are built with a lot of room and
> many levels, I haven't found one with a lot of floor space that isn't multi
> level.
> Dawn