From:
mjanke@miamiferret.org
Date: 2005-08-22 22:14:52 UTC
Subject: RE: ill ferrit
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2512434.1124748892827.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> he has started to have some sort of fit or stroke that makes him become lethargic,glassy eyed,falls over to one side and disorientated.this can last for 5 secs or 2 to 3 hours.
If this isn't a classic description of a hypoglycemic ferret, I don't know what is. His blood glucose has dropped so low as to cause the symptoms you see. I would be surprised if there hasn't been permanent brain damage if he has been in this condition for 2-3 hours at a time.
Get your vet to check his blood glucose level. It's a simple test. I would not fast him prior to doing this test, even if the vet says to do so. Fasting could trigger a hypoglycemic episode. In a ferret with insulinoma, which typically is the cause of low blood glucose, eating doesn't result in a normal glucose reading.
I would be very surprised if it's something other than hypoglycemia.
mike