From:
Kriskius@aol.com
Date: 2005-01-09 16:55:14 UTC
Subject: Extensor rigidity/hyperreflixia?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6423710.1105289714570.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone can share information on Extensor rigidity/hyperreflixia.
I have a little Blaze ferret that is showing signs of this. I first started noticing it around December, however I was unable to explain the symptoms I was seeing, without confusing anyone. I came across an article that was written in the 2nd edition of Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents (page 119)...and realized this has to be what my little one has. Here are the articles:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/Kriskius/hyperflexia4FerretsRabbitsRodentspage119.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/Kriskius/hyperflexia3FerretsRabbitsRodentspage119.jpg
And here are some pictures of my Shal Dee:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/Kriskius/s1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/Kriskius/s2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/Kriskius/s3.jpg
I little background on Shal Dee. As far as I am concerned, he has never been the *healthiest* ferret. He had bilateral adrenal surgery at a young age (2 years old) and still seems to be recovering from that, even thought the surgery was performed in March 2004.
In November, I started him on melatonin implants, and he is due for his second dose in February. However, thus far I am not seeing that the melatonin is helping his fur growth. However I have noticed a change (for the better) in his appetite and behavior.
As far as the Extensor rigidity/hyperreflixia this is what I have observed:
He has always walked differently than my other ferrets, his back legs do appear to be stiffer than the other ferrets...but I wasn't really concerned until I saw the what he was doing in December.
I find that it really is rather alarming, and disturbing to watch. What he will do, is walk up to the food dish, (normally I see this when he is eating) ... within seconds usually his left leg will stiffen out, like what I showed in the pictures above.
It does seem to take him longer to eat than the others, and he will stay at the food dish long after the others are done.
Once he is done eating, and attempts to walk off... he just can't get that leg to working immediately, and he sort of drags it. It is completely paralyzed, and stiff. This is when I will pick him up, and massage it. It will stay stiff for a few more seconds, never over a minute, then he will relax it.
On one (or two) occasions I did see this happen to both legs,
(while he was eating)
He couldn't walk after he was done, and just attempted to drag himself with his front paws. I picked him up and massaged both legs until they relaxed.
When his leg is stiff, it doesn't seem to be painful to him, he just acts as if it is an inconvenience.
I have tested his BS while he was displaying this behavior, and it was normal. I also tested a few hours afterwards, also a few hours before feeding, and again normal.
Could this have something to do with the way he is bending his neck? Perhaps it is interfering with his spinal cord? I am going to try feeding him at a higher level, to see if this helps, so he will not have to bend his neck down to eat. As far as I am concerned, he is not a surgical candidate, he just seems to frail...and seems to have a few other issues going on. I don't want to put him through another surgery.
I am looking for any information that would help me understand this ailment, and would appreciate your feedback.
Thank you in advance,
Kris and the Fur Kids