From:
alexisandjason@yahoo.com
Date: 2006-11-02 02:29:50 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] hind leg weakness
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
I have posted this on multiple boards so I apologize if you read it more th=
an once. I will try and be brief.
solomon is 6 years 11 months, had a first adrenal surgery at age 3, and did=
fine. has been completely healthy since until this year. his fur began t=
hinning again recently, and due to his age we are not going to try and take=
this adrenal out. he has slowed down over the last 6 months, but still ac=
ts like a happy ferret, just for shorter periods of time. last wednesday, =
he began stumbling and by the end of the day had lost about half of the use=
of his hind legs. by the next morning he had no use of them. his front h=
alf was totally normal, bright & alert, and he did well moving around despi=
te his legs. =
the vet heard an arythmia when he was examined on thursday and put him on e=
nalapril, which had no effect on his legs but did seem to perk him up more.=
then we tried metacam, thinking it was an injury, and this also had no ef=
fect. the hind leg weakness is constant and his blood sugar was 90, so we =
don't think it is insulinoma. an xray was done which showed a slightly rou=
nded heart, but nothing severe, normal liver, etc. his spleen is very enla=
rged, but we already knew that. he has no other symptoms of lymphoma and h=
as had the enlarged spleen for around 18 mos. the vet did not see any conc=
rete spine abnormalities, but did say that there were 3 vertebrea that appe=
ared to be compressed. he said that a concrete diagnosis of compressed vert=
ebrae would be a... myleogram?? where they inject dye into the spine and im=
age it, but that he would have to be sedated and his age and overall condit=
ion made him a poor anesthesia risk. he has no apparent pain when his spin=
e is palpated, and he does still have reflexes in his hind legs. =
=
he has had some intermittant trembling which looks like he is cold more tha=
n a neurological trembling, but I cannot be sure. he has lost control of =
his pee and poop, which to be honest, doesn't really seem to bother him muc=
h as long as I am there to clean him up. <grin> he will eat and drink b=
ut only from my hand. I have him on baby food mixed with softened kibble &=
nutrical. he has maintained his weight and hydration fine over the last w=
eek.
I took him outside and supported his back end and he literally flew through=
the yard. that makes me think that he is feeling "OK" aside from the legs=
. but the reality is that his legs don't work and I don't know why, so we =
are considering euthanasia at this point. but because he is alert and acti=
ve, I don't want to. but I don't want him to continue to live without the =
use of his legs, either. the poor thing wants to move but has to drag hims=
elf around, which of course tires him out quickly. I have read over the ar=
chives and find multiple causes of hind leg weakness but none of them seem =
to fit solomon's situation for one reason or another.
I want to do what he needs but don't know what to do. can anyone help?
=
=
=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<<<
SMARTGROUPS CLOSURE =96Unfortunately SmartGroups will be closing on 30th No=
vember 2006. Please click here for further details.
http://ads.smartgroups.com/adclick/CID=3D000000dbc79a99a500000000
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D>>>
--
If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
To leave the group, email: ferrethealth-unsubscribe@smartgroups.com
Report abuse http://www.smartgroups.com/text/abusereport.cfm?gid%3D1423922&mid%3D18599