From:
Andrew Yong
Date: 2011-11-22 14:55:09 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Arthritic ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I have a 5-6-year old ferret, Hugo, who has been slowing down over the past two years. About six months ago he developed hind-leg weakness and was initially misdiagnosed with insulinoma and he was placed on a low dose of pred. Over this time his condition has fluctuated between being able to stagger on four paws to only being able to drag his hind legs. With extra care and feeding he was back to being able to walk slowly unsteadily on four paws. The insulinoma was subsequently ruled out by a second vet after two sets of bloodwork, so we stopped the pred, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong. His appetite has always been good
About three months ago he lost his sister to an accident, and after about a month he was back to dragging his hind legs. I took him to a third vet, who diagnosed arthritis. His hind legs were stiff and if supported he would walk on his knuckles. Both hocks were cracking but one was a lot more arthritic than the other. He was put on a course of Baytril because his spleen was enlarged, and given fish oil and glucosamine supplements.
By the second visit three weeks later, the enlarged spleen was resolved, but he could not even drag himself with his front paws anymore. The front paws are now stiffly pointing downwards (towards his tail) and also knuckling. His hocks and paws both crack when mobilised. His upper back is also stiffly hunchbacked to the extent that his sternum also now curves (bottom points outwards) from always being bent. Only his head and neck are mobile. He is now on Tolfedine and a second course of Baytril. We are going back in a couple of weeks after the vet gets a new digital xray.
I have not heard much of arthritis in ferrets, so I am not sure whether there could be an underlying cause. He did suffer some trauma about two years ago when he and his sister escaped from their cage on the balcony and somehow ended up two stories down (he broke a canine and had a scraped chin but she was perfectly fine).
He is currently being spoon-fed a mixture of ground ferret food and water every four hours during the day. He requires help emptying his bladder a couple of times a day (this was the cause of the previous abdominal stiffness) and usually defaecates in his bed when he needs to go because he can't move. If there is no chance of him getting better I think it's probably time to let him go, but because of the various inconclusive diagnoses so far and while we have been trying to treat the arthritis, I didn't want to put him to sleep while there was a chance of his getting better. He has been my best pal for the past 3 1/2 years and it is miserable seeing him like this.
Andrew
Andrew Yong
andrew@yong.at
+6016 810 4522
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