From:
Chelsey Baker-Hauck
Date: 2006-10-06 18:00:52 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Myasthenia Gravis
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
My ferret Elmo (I've written about him here before) has had some
strange weakness/paralysis issues over the past 2 months. His
condition can vary greatly from day to day, week to week. For
example, two months ago, he couldn't use his hind legs at all but was
continent. Three weeks ago, he had complete mobility and was
completely normal, then the next day his back legs were walking in a
circle (in the opposite direction as the front legs, which makes for
a ferret pretzel). Now, he's experiencing inertia, where he can't
seem to get things moving, but once you help him start, he's fine.
Then, he sometimes has a hard time stopping a movement until you help
him. It's very weird, and it comes and goes.
He's seen a neurologist, and while we've ruled out a lot of things,
we haven't been able to come up with a diagnosis. The only thing the
vets were left with was a distemper-caused encephalitic neuropathy.
But now, based on some new symptoms (especially the inertia, which
seems neuromuscular), they suspect myasthenia gravis but don't have
any info on that disease in ferrets, just other species. Elmo does
not have megaesophagus, which I understand occurs with myasthenia
gravis in dogs.
Elmo is a 5-year-old neutered male. He had bloodwork done a month
ago--all perfect. Really, with the exception of these neurologic
symptoms, he seems perfectly healthy.
Does anyone have any info about the occurrence/diagnosis/treatment/
prognosis of this disease in ferrets?
Chelsey and Elmo
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