From:
"Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2004-01-18 18:27:53 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Ker Avon update (paralysis) & questions about irritation,
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
nature of injury
Message-ID: <Law12-F106N76wqaJPy0001b05b@hotmail.com>
I don't quite remember but had they used antibiotics for the nervous sstem
on him? If he has improvement it is a good thing, if yo isolate the painful
area (pain is a sign that he fells and sensory is a good thing, and reuse
tells me he has some motor fundtion too. I would take this as a good sign.
I ask about the CNS antibiotics because perhaps there is an discospondylitis
or menigitis that is also very painful (the former is more painful) and
perhaps that will help. Also if he threw a blood clot to the area that
caused it all and the antiinfammatories are helping to reduce it it may be
becoming painful. I would be cautiously optimistic and continue the great
job you are doing with him. Best of Luck,
Dr. Sue
>From: <caitlyn@mizuhoradio.com>
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
>Subject: [ferrethealth] Ker Avon update (paralysis) & questions about
>irritation, nature of injury
>Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 11:15:11 -0800 (PST)
>
>Hi, everyone,
>
>As of Friday Ker Avon was on .25ml pediapred (1mg/ml concentration) and had
>received a dexamethasone injection from our vet to see if the steroids
>might
>help him regain some mobility. Our vet held out little hope for even
>stabilizing him, let alone improvement, and already asked for permission to
>do a necropsy. That request angered me to no end. I wasn't ready to give
>up and thaknfully neither was Avon.
>
>By Friday night he was going to the litter pan on his own again and was
>actually using his left rear leg to push a little, so we saw definite and
>marked improvement. This allowed us to bathe him with real hope he could
>remain clean. Since then he's completely lost use of his rear legs again
>but remains continent. He'e eating well on his own and seems to be in
>pretty good spirits. He only plays briefly (maybe 10 minutes at a stretch)
>and sleeps most of the rest of the time. We have a toy truck Keith cut
>down
>and put a soft cloth on and he used that once so far to get around. He'll
>also let us hold up his back sometimes, or else he just crawls.
>
>Here are my questions: Avon does not seem to be in pain unless you touch
>one specific spot on his lower spine. Touching there will make him cry
>out.
> I've also hear him cry in his sleep exactly once. It seems to me we now
>know where the site of the injury (or tumor, or whatever...) is. Does this
>open any additional treatment possibilities? Please remember that both
>ultrasound and X-rays showed nothing.
>
>Also, his little anus was protruding a bit by the time we took him to
>Charlotte a week ago. It's red and a bit swollen looking now. Also his
>penis and some skin around it is red and irritated, I assume from a
>combination of him getting urine on himself and him dragging himself around
>on bedding, carpeting, etc... Is there anything we can use to relieve his
>irritation and keep him comfortable?
>
>I've noticed ferrets are really good at letting me know when it's their
>time. Avon hasn't done that at all yet and still likes to be held and
>wants
>to be with the other ferrets. In a case like this is there anything I
>should look for in getting ready to make that decision if and when the time
>comes?
>
>What makes this so frustrating is he his alert and his personality is very
>much intact. He's even learned that a move towards the litter pan those
>times when he is caged will get the door opened to help him, and he makes a
>sharp turn for the door :) His mind is as sharp as ever.
>
>Any suggestions are very much appreciated.
>
>All the best,
>Cait and the amazing eight
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
>visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
>
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