From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-08-28 04:02:38 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Need advice
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <12888787.1093668938845.JavaMail.nobody@chromium.smartgroups.com>
--- jbahosh@hotmail.com wrote:
> I have an 8 year old female ferret and she is
> getting very skinny but still eats and drinks.
This could be a symptom of disease. It's really
common in ferrets (or humans for that matter) who have
some form of cancer, for example.
> She
> is also very stiff in her hind legs. She has been
> having trouble walking due to this.
Is she stiff in the hind legs or just weak there? I
wonder if both issues might be due to insulinoma. If
it really is stiffness (i.e.: arthritis) there is
medication that can relieve that.
> Is this old age or is there help?
I think she has a medical problem and needs to see a
vet. Eight is fairly old for a ferret (about like 80
for you or me) but neither of the issues you describe
are normal aging. I've also seen ferrets make it to
nine or 10 and remain active and healthy.
If she were mine I'd get her to a good ferret vet and
I'd certainly have her blood glucose checked. A full
CBC isn't a bad idea in a ferret that age as part of a
regualr checkup also. Some things (like insulinoma)
can be treated medically very effectively and she may
well recover.
The usual disclaimer applies: I am not a vet, but I
have had ferrets that were eight and still had
effective medical treatment (including one surgery)
that allowed them to live happily for another year or
two.
All the best,
Caity and the fantastic four