From:
"ncferretmom"
Date: 2007-08-20 16:54:58 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] RE: Need Physical Therapy help
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
[On moderator request Renee has resubmitted this because Yahoogroups may ha=
ve lost the original copy after approval.]
Re: Need Physical Therapy help
Hi, a friend forwarded your post to me to see if Imight be able to help you=
. I have an article
on PT in the current Ferrets magazine and have had several neurologically i=
mpaired ferrets
in my home. I will try to answer your questions about Koda. If you do not g=
et Ferrets
Magazine, I suggest you pick up a copy of the Sept-Oct issue so you will ha=
ve the
information.
I am not familiar with Ivermectin causing paralysis, but that does not mean=
it can't =96 just
that it is not something of which I am aware. I have used it both orally an=
d in the ears of
all of my ferrets to protect them from heartworm and to treat earmites.
I do wonder why he was in the hospital and what they gave him. What type of=
prognosis
did the vet give? Does he think that Koda will regain use of his legs?
In the meantime, here are some things you can try with him. You can continu=
e to
strengthen the muscles so that they will help him.
You are doing the right thing to help him stand to eat. It is good for him =
to bear weight on
his legs. Instead of putting his feet around the bowl, separate his front l=
egs so they are a
little wider than shoulder width apart. Do the same with the back. To help =
him
standsteady, you can just touch him and it will give him a reference.
Do the exercises in the magazine. Here is a brief summary:
1. Massage. Using a thumb or several fingertips, massage the foot first, mo=
ving upward
to the ankle, then the leg, the thigh and eventually the lower back. Extend=
this to include
rubbing Koda's back, performing a full body massage, stimulating blood flow=
and
increasing sensation in all parts massaged.
2. Balance balls. Using a ball large enough to keep his feet from touching =
the floor,
place Koda on his stomach, allowing his legs to hang over the sides. Holdin=
g him firmly in
place by pressing down on his hips, supporting his back so that it remains =
straight, and
very slowly rolling the ball forward. As he moves forward, Koda should exte=
nd his front
legs to catch himself, tightening the muscles. Roll the ball back so he is =
once more in a
neutral position. As a variation, roll the ball tothe sides or in a circula=
r motion to stimulate
the vestibular system and cause different muscles to contract.
3. Weight-bearing. Supporting the upper half of Koda's body with one hand, =
hold him
upright so he can stand on his hind legs. Taking your other hand, place it =
under his back
feet, providing a platform on which he can stand. Gently raise that hand ag=
ainst the feet.
As you push up, Koda will press back, causing muscle contraction. Hold this=
position for
three to five seconds, then lower your hand to let his muscles relax before=
repeating.
Ibegan with three repetitions and built up to eight.
4. Balance. Putting a treat or gravy before Koda to distract him, stand Kod=
a on all four
feet on the floor, separating his hind legs until they are a little more th=
an shoulder width
apart. Do the same with his front legs. If his toes curl under, put his paw=
s flat on the
ground. If he wobbles, put a hand beneath his belly to help him balance. Do=
this three
times a day, allowing Koda to associate the standing with a treat. Over tim=
e Koda may be
able to stand without wobbling.
5. Pressure. Gentle pressure over the hips will cause a ferret to push back=
, so while
Koda is standing, evenly and firmly, but gently press down with equal press=
ure on both
hind hips. You should feel Koda stabilize and push against your hand.
6. Swimming. In the bathtub, put enough water so that Koda can not stand. P=
rovide a
life preserver, something Koda can lie on other than your hand, so he feels=
secure. A
folded-up towel placed in the bottom of the tub remains the water temperatu=
re and allows
traction. It is soft, yet will help support him. It also offers traction if=
he tries to stand. Any
item that will not float away can be used. Placing one hand under Koda to s=
upport his
chest and head, gently pull him through the water. Changing hands, pull him=
the other
way. At first his legs may float behind him. As he becomes accustomed
to the feel of the water, he will relax. After several laps, allow Koda to =
rest on the life
preserver so he can learn about the support it offers. A ferret's body temp=
erature is
higher than a human's so the water had to be warm enough to prevent him bec=
oming
chilled. I used a baby bath thermometer to keep the temperature between 105=
=B0 and
110=B0 F.
7. Climbing. Let's face it, all ferrets love to climb. With an off- balance=
ferret, they are
likely to fall if there is not something to prevent that. To avoid falls of=
f ramps, remove the
ramps and use tubes such as the pre-fabricated elbow joints from home impro=
vement
stores. Also, the SuperPet Funnels that snap into the openings in their cag=
es and shelves
work great and your cage can be modified for these if you do not have a Sup=
erPet cage. On
stairs use a long flexible tunnel so that Koda can go up and down without f=
ear of falling.
This also works great for the ferret to get from one area of the house to a=
nother. With
tubes, my ferret could go everywhere. To help him learn to balance when cli=
mbing ramps,
take a louvered door with the slits made by little pieces of wood and lean =
it against a low
board. Encourage him to climb on it and place his
hind feet so that he can push off agains the ledge formed and move up to th=
e next one. In
this way he can learn to climb ramps and keep his balance. The other ferret=
s love this too,
thinking it is a playground!
8. Sand, bean or rice box. Use a plastic bin and filled it with rice, sand =
or beans. Attach
a tunnel to a hole in the end of the box so that Koda can climb in and out =
by himself.
Playing in these, Koda will have support on his sides, allowing him to move=
by himself.
This is similar to swimming, but allows the ferret to right himself. Since =
all of the ferrets
are a little off-balance when playing in the rice, it is an equalizer for K=
oda. WARNING: Do
NOT use instant rice. Hazardous for ferrets if ingested.
9. Hammock swing. Holding Koda in a hammock so that he can lay on his back,=
support
both ends of the towel. Gently swing him back and forth, providing more ves=
tibular
stimulation.
10. Plastic grocery bag. Put Koda into a plastic grocery bag for a ride. Ho=
lding onto the
handles and assuring that the bag has no holes, spin the bag in one directi=
on and let it
unwind. This provides vestibular stimulation and is also fun. With my boy, =
Oscar, after
each rotation, he would excitedly war dance, trying to stand up, exercising=
more muscles.
11. Towel rides. Pull Koda around on a towel, which stimulates him to natur=
ally try to
move farther along. Movement causes him to have to change his focus, bringi=
ng the visual
channel into play. This will also cause him to use both sets of legs, again=
leading to
muscle strengthening.
These should help strengthen him so that he will not have trouble getting o=
ut of poopy.
He should still be able to get to the litter box, but try using newspaper a=
s litter can cause
him to slip. If you put a paper towel down over it, it helps him stand. Whe=
n mine got old
and to the point they could not get to the box, I just use disposable rugs.=
You can use an
old towel or puppy training pads in the litter box, too.
Instead of a sleepsack, try a hammock (freestanding if he is free roam) or =
a bed. The flat
dog beds are good for this. After he potties, encourage him to go forward w=
ith a treat. If
necessary, go ahead and wash him off for a few times. Use warm water. He wi=
ll be able to
soon improve, but for now he needs a little help.
Do you have someone at home to help him when you are not there? If so, teac=
h them the
same thing. All the attention will help him, okay? Also, ask about the cara=
fate instead of
the pepto. I don't know if it makes a difference. Is he on other meds?
Please feel free to email me at crdowns@gmail.com if you have any questions=
. I hope this
helps. Let me know how he does, please.
Renee Downs
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