From:
"Ulrike"
Date: 2004-08-30 11:20:56 UTC
Subject: Hind leg wekness, kidney and bladder (and spinal?) problems
To: "Ferrethealth" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-Id: <41330D98.00000B.02436@FERRETLOVE1>
My ferret Hobo, neutered, 5 years old, has developed a hind leg weakness
over the last 1-2 weeks. He has great problems walking up the stairs, doesn
t seem to have enough strength to push himself up the steps. When he walks,
he wobbles and often slips. I also noticed he has problems urinating. He'll
run from one toilet to the next, try and go but he can't, then runs to
another toilet. I watched him, he strained to urinate, did 2 little puddles
and eventually he emptied his bladder. I got scared and thought "prostate"
so my vet x-rayed him last Saturday. But she could not feel an enlarged
prostate nor did it look enlarged on the x-ray. Also no evidence of bladder
stones.
But the left kidney looked a lot more dense than the right and there seemed
to be a problem with the spine, I cant remember all that my vet said but
something involving the last lumbar vertebrae and the first sacral vertebrae
(I think). (I didn't understand it all, she thinks 2 vertebras are fused and
"spongy" (?) in appearance with some (bone?) growth underneath.)
My vet said this thing with the spine could be because of a chronic
(bladder?) infection and thats why weve send off urine for bacteriology.
Or of course it could be a tumour. It could also make it uncomfortable for
Hobo to pee. Blood was also sent off.
I have put the x-rays on my web page, I would really appreciate it if
somebody (vets?) could have a look to see whether the spine does look bad.
Also, I read one of my vet books and it said if a kidney looks more dense on
an x-ray that it could be cancerous. What should I do, book Hobo in for
surgery?
The x-rays are here:
www.ferretlove.co.uk/hobox.htm
Ulrike
West Wales Ferret Welfare
E-mail: ulrike@ferretlove.co.uk
http://www.ferretlove.co.uk
Last update 10/08/04