From:
naturabella@stny.rr.com
Date: 2005-01-06 07:18:32 UTC
Subject: Sudden Loss of right Hind Leg
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7157340.1104995912780.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi
I had an earlier post questioning the head rolling that my ferret had been doing, wondering if it was related to ear problems or seizures. He had a couple short episodes (minute long)where he would stop what he was doing and roll his head around slowly, and coming out of it like it never happened. He was conscious during the episodes.
Tonight my ferret suddenly lost use of his right hind leg. He seemed fine all day and then tonight while he was walking around, suddenly it was like he was paralized in his right back leg.
He was trying to walk but he just dragged the leg behind him. He kept rolling on his back, and when I tried to pick him up he would twist himself, in a torsion-like posture.This lasted for about 2 hours and he finally regained the use of the leg. He acted like he was uncomfortable, not being able to use his leg...He kept kicking the leg that he could use, almost like a spasm or something.
He has hind end weakness most of the time. He is 9 years old now and has dilative cardiomyopathy and insulinoma. His sugar has been stable since his surgery though. For a few months now he has been unable to urinate on his own.
Does anyone know if manually emptying a ferrets bladder several times a day can be damaging.?
Does the loss of his right leg seem to go along with the head rolling episodes described earlier?
What kind of tests can I start with to diagnose the problem?
Does this seem neurological or maybe a blood clot?
Thanx so much for any suggetions,
Tara