From:
mustelid90@hotmail.com
Date: 2003-12-15 19:32:04 UTC
Subject: Head Tilting/Loss Of Balance
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5725431.1071516724262.JavaMail.root@indium.smartgroups.com>
Greetings all,
I have a 5 1/2 yr old female with bilateral cataracts. She is a loner, and doesn't associate with the other ferrets. Yesterday afternoon, (12/14) she came out of her crinkle sack and her head was tilted to the right. She is literally walking in circles and loses her balance thereby flopping around until she regains her balance. She has not been eating nor elimating very much over the past twenty-four hours. I took her to the vet this morning. An ear swab was done as I suspected an inner ear infection. Results were nornmal. A complete blood work up was done.
Results are as follows:
Alb: 1.6 Low
Alp: 32
Alt: 173
Amy: <5
Tbil: 0.3
Bun: 21
Ca++: 7.4
Phos: 3.6
Cre: 0.7
Glu: 88
Na+: 135
K+: 4.9
Tp: 6.0
Glob: 4.4
WBC: 23K
PVC: 35.2
PLT: 772
She was palpated and no enlarged organs were found. I have several issues here I need some guidance on. The vet supects a possible brain tumor even though I have read through the archives brain tumors are VERY rare in ferrets.
Second is the albumin value.... very low. For her diet, Sassy has ingested nothing but soup for almost three years as she took a liking to it when she was ill. Hard as I tried, she would not convert back to kibble. Her soup consists of 2nd stage Gerber turkey, AD and pet tinic. I've tried to add ground kibble to it for higher protein. She knows when the recipe is changed and refuses to eat when it is. One year ago she weighed 1 lb 12 ounces. Now, she is down to 12 ounces. I've decided to add a cooked egg to her soup. Any other suggestions to increase the protein in her diet?
The vet prescribed the antibiotic Sulfatrim pediatric suspension, .3 x 2 per day. He states this is a broad spectrum drug that could possibly reduce any inflammation in the brain. Does ANYONE have any idea as to what is going on with this little girl. She appears disoriented most of the time and just wants to sleep. Any suggestions on how to increase her protien intake. A CT scan is not an option due to the usual financial contraints of having a multiple ferret household with other ill ferrets requiring medical attention. Any and all suggestions/observations would be appreciated.