From:
"Michael Skidmore"
Date: 2009-05-24 03:04:39 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Help: still active ferret, no contol over
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
While you haven't given any information on age, prior medical condition, nor diet I can tell you these symptoms (minus the abdomen) is how we first found our 7yo male had insulinoma.
Charlie was dragging his back legs, we thought he had an injury and had broken his spine. Turned out that with very low blood glucose the muscles/nerves in the hind quarter suffer a reversible partial paralysis. Our ferret was not showing bald spots, but did have some diminished fur on end of tail. He went on to have another 2 years with treatment.
I don't know about the belly swelling though that sounds bad, perhaps even critical if no passing urine/feces. If the ferret cannot go poo/pee or is straining that is an emergency as per our vet's instructions previously.
Could you do one thing and report back? Give the ferret some ferretvite or karo syrup then see if the rear paralysis improves after 10-15 min and the ferret has an improvement in activity level. If so, this may well be insulinoma and you can start improved management this weekend by feeding every 4 hours a high protein/ low carb meal such as duck soup.(Many posts on that here in archives) Keep karo syrup on hand if he becomes very lethargic or starts to convulse spread on gums with Q tip and he should come around in 10 min or so.
In Ft Luaderdale we have two 24 hour hospitals that can treat ferrets, they are listed as "pet emergency center 24 hr. veterinary hospitals" I realize Indiana may not have as many but you should be able to find a place that can do a blood glucose test and physical exam over the holiday weekend, although travel may be involved. Call ahead to see if they treat small animals, if they do birds, it is likely they do ferrets as well.
Good luck for the carpet shark this weekend.
Skids
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Jennifer" <jenayferc21@...> wrote:
>
> using bathroom, no use of back feet, (thoe she can move them) she is also swollen below her belly button, still eating and drinking, no fur loss. crawls on her front feet, i called several vets they are all closed for the holiday! she is spayed / decented, tried contacting marshal but they are also closed
>
> indiana
>
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