From:
"2 Coatis"
Date: 2008-04-11 23:50:02 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: flu/fever causing paralysis? ADVICE NEEDED!
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
John
yes inflammation from the extreme fever could have caused spinal
inflammation, but also dehydration secondary to the high fever could
cause a clot to be thorwn into the spine and or the caudal vena cava
into the femorals and cause the paralysis to your ferret's hind limbs.
Also, a partially herniated disc could do this and many times this
will not show up under regular survey films but needs contrast films
or an MRI to show.
Doc Sandy
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "johnmarshe" <johnmarshe@...>
wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> My 7mth old ferret, Louie, came down with a flu and developed a very
> high fever reaching almost 107F. He was kept at the animal hospital
> that specializes in exotics, birds and ferrets.
>
> After 2 days in the hospital with injections of antibiotics and
> hydration the vet managed to get his fever down to normal temps. He
> was then sent home with me. When he got home he was just like his
old
> self playing and running etc (but tired). We gave him his
antibiotics
> (1cc Novotrimel 48mg) and put him to bed that night and the next
> morning we were shocked that he had no use of his hind legs. Well he
> could move them but he couldn't stand on them to walk. We then
rushed
> him back to the animal hospital and admitted him again. We did blood
> work and x-rays and left him in the hospital over night. The next
> morning the doctor called me to tell me he lost all use of his hind
> legs so he can not even move them anymore. The X-rays came back with
> no signs of organ/bone problems and his bloodwork and sugar test
were
> also completely normal. The doctor is stumped and said its possible
> that the flu/fever caused inflammation of his spine so they began
> steroid treatments to try and reduce any inflammation. We took him
> home Thursday April 10th and after about 3-4 hours of being home he
> could almost walk on his left hind leg. I mean he does walk on the
> left one but he can't prop himself up with it. Its also a lot of
work
> for him to get the leg into walking position but he can do it. His
> right leg still just drags behind him.
>
> My question is do you think that the vet could be right? Could the
> flu/fever caused this inflammation resulting in paralysis?
>
> Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> PS... He is otherwise acting perfectly normal. Playful, energetic
and
> eats/drinks plenty.
>
> (UPDATE)
> Today, Friday April 11th, Louie woke up and is now able to use both
of
> his hind legs. He sometimes falls over, like a gait issue, but its
> getting less and less as the day goes by.
>
------------------------------------
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