From:
"mondays_baby"
Date: 2011-08-26 19:07:35 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Hind End Weakness BB
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Sukie (and ALL others)
I have a 5 year old (going on 6 come first of 2012) male ferret. He is showing weakness in his hind end area.
All his bloodwork and xrays have come back normal. Vet says he is showing that he has ability to use his legs, and he DOES show that, but he simply is not able to walk about much anymore. At times he does/will, but most often he kinda slithers around on his belly trying to push with his hind legs. Very heartbreaking!!
He seems to be fine other then that...still eating good, no other signs or symptoms of anything that I can tell, and as I said bloodwork fine and xrays showed nothing. This does seem to have him depressed a bit because he chooses to go back to sleep right after feedings and stays put in his favorite sleep area (if only just to lay there). If I take him outside, he is alert and curious. Same thing if I put him in a room that he is not use to being in (new adventure). He has free roam of the house and at this point does not seem to be interested in anything anymore. Sometimes it even seems as if he is bothered when we try to comfort him or snuggle with him ~ I feel that is because this is effecting him emotionally, knowing he can't get around. If I see him trying to get to the poo pad, water area or maybe another bed, I will pick him up and carry him there myself. If he comes out of his favorite sleep place and lays in the middle of the floor, I will also assist in moving him to the other bed or taking him to the water bowl to see if he wants any and this seems to work so far and satisfy him, but I am VERY VERY worried about him.
As a side note, this all started when my husband and I went on vacation for a week (4-5 days) and left him with my daughter. This affected him traumatically and I would NOT have went had I known it would do this. He was VERY depressed and running fever when we returned. He recovered fairly quickly after a vet visit, antibiotics, prednisone and LOTS OF LOVE.
He is somewhat chunky (has been that way since a baby). And might have had a wee bit (a very wee bit as it was almost undectable) of trouble getting around before vacation, but NOTHING like this. Also, I had two other ferrets who were his companions. Lost one in March 2010 to insulonoma :( Lost the other November 2010 to adreanal gland disease :( Their death affected him, yes, but I feel he recovered from that well as he was always kinda been a loner and kept more to himself. The thing is that while the other two were sick, I ground up their regular kibble and mixed warm water with it so they would/could eat it. All 3 of them got addicted to this mixture. My little "brotherbear" whom I am writing to you about now still eats this mixture. I feel like hard kibble would be the best for him, but then again, it is the same thing just ground up with water added. He will not eat the hard kibble anymore. It does worry me however, do you see this in any way being part of the problem?
The ONLY other thing I can think of is that his primary vet says he has an enlarged spleen, so much so that it is pushing against his other organs. Also, he has the puffiness in his neck area, but the doc concluded that he does not have lymphoma. My other vet said he could still possibly have lymphoma in his spine. If so, would this show up on any xrays or tests?
Do you have any suggestions or ideas of how I can help him or further steps to take to find out what is wrong...obviously something is.
PLEASE PLEASE HELP
Awaiting your reply,
Jovonna
Please forgive me if I broke any rules as I am new to this also and is my first post.
ANYONE who has suggestions, ideas or input may email me: vonna_vonna@yahoo.com
[Your post is fine and entirely within FHL rules. Help with ferret health issues is what the list is all about. --Moderator (CMM)]
Thanks SO Much!!
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