From:
"merylfaulkner"
Date: 2007-07-25 00:55:22 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Paralysed skunk
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I rehabilitate birds and also (a few) juvenile skunks in So Cal. Could
this animal have been exposed to distemper virus? I originally lived
in the UK and remember we always vaccinated our dogs. Could this
animal have been exposed to a wild animal(fox, weasel) carrying the
disease? Does this skunk go outdoors?
Many years ago a juvenile raccoon was brought in to the people who
started the organization I volunteer with here. It had slight
neurological signs (twitches and occasional seizures)and paralysis
which got worse. At that time it was difficult to determine from any
clinical tests what the problem was that affected the animal. They
treated the animal with subcutaneous fluids, phenobarbitone and tube
feeding. It ended up with some permanent paralysis I think, and
occasional seizures as long as it lived. It survived for about 6
years, finally the phenobarb could not control the seizures and it was
euthanized. A veterinarian who worked at the SD Zoo told me that
animals can survive the disease, but sometimes continue with paralysis
or seizures. Perhaps a ferret might survive with a lot of supportive
care if it was diagnosed early enough, and had a small dose of virus.
An adult skunk may have enough of an immune system to fight off the
disease, but be left with the paralysis. Has the skunk been vaccinated
against distemper? Some rehabbers vaccinate juvenile skunks with the
ferret vaccine, but it's frowned on by US veterinarians since it has
not been tested in that species.I saw on PubMed that Alaskan wolves
have been found to have antibodies to distemper virus - so some
animals have a bit of natural immune response.
Meryl
> wrote:
>
> Moderator's Note: after Uli's request the moderators decided to
allow an exception in this case for the post below. If replies
clearly can not impart info which may help ferrets, please, send those
directly to Uli. If the health info could also help ferrets then feel
free to post publicly here.
>
> ---
>
>
> This post is not about a ferret but a skunk... Tyler, 3 years old,
> neutered, was always active, playing with some of the ferrets and
> running up and down the stairs. In May he suddenly couldn't get up the
> stairs anymore, I don't know if it was hind leg weakness or whether it
> was just neurological. <snip>
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