From:
DaveGaines@aol.com
Date: 2005-07-09 15:54:39 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Digest 9 Jul 2005 07:16:41 -0000 Issue 1049
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <208.4a304b1.30014d3f@aol.com>
In a message dated 7/9/2005 3:17:06 AM Eastern Standard Time,
ferrethealth-digest-help@smartgroups.com writes:
she sleeps all the time, if she plays, its only for about 3 minutes. she
seems normal besides that (she eats, drinks, bright eyes and alert when awake,
ect). i took her to the vet and they took x rays and they were fine, no tumors or
broken bones. she wasnt able to use her front legs before and they gave her
steriods and she got better but now shes off of the meds and looks like shes
struggling with those legs again. when she walks, she staggers and sometimes
goes backwards (which is what she did when she couldnt use her front legs). she
also shakes alot.
To me, this sounds like insulinoma. What I've seen is that an experienced
ferret vet will see this particular collection of symptoms, and then make a
presumptive diagnosis of insulinoma after getting a blood glucose level. It's odd
that the front legs are involved instead of the rear legs, however. I would
think that would be the very first thing a vet would do - have you fast the
ferret for two hours and then draw blood to check the glucose level. Roughly 100 or
so, give or take (depending on the vet's experience), is normal.
Why is she off of the steroids?