From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2012-01-02 10:03:01 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Ascending weakness
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
When you say "ascending weakness" do you mean that he's having hind end weakness that has extended to his front end?
Hind end weakness is a hallmark symptom of general malaise in a ferret and is associated with many conditions, however, it is also a common first symptom of insulinoma.
Is there another vet who could do a blood glucose test on him until your vet returns, even an experienced vet tech should be able to do that for you?
I had a rescue who had ascending paralysis, but was already advanced in his illness. He was completely incontinent and had severe urine burns by the time I got him. Within 24 hours he was completely paralyzed and was mercifully euthanized.
In his case we did a full body necropsy to rule out Aleutian's Disease as a differential diagnosis. Pathology confirmed lymphoma of the brain and spinal column. This was an extreme case but according to the owner his symptoms had begun as general ascending weakness, progressing to stumbling, confusion, lack of coordination, toileting accidents, incontinence and ascending paralysis over a period of about a month.
The initial diagnosis was probable accident and trauma to the spine although the owner insisted an accident was not possible. He came to me because my vet, who was the second opinion on the case, also believed it might be an accident and thought with care and time, that he should recover. The care was too much for the owner to manage. Sadly it was not a curable condition.
Tressie
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