>we are having a necropsy done and will share the results with all of you
>asap...we are praying it is not ADV....12 other darlings and my mind cant
>fathom what we would do....the initial results of the necropsy showed some
>tumors on the liver and kidneys and the beginnings of an insulinoma but
>nothing that would cause the hind limb paralyisis....the lab results for
>ADV should be here within a week
 
Dear Brenda and Domenic:
 
I grieve for your loss, and I pray that you don't beat yourselves up
unnecesarily on all this - you still have other ferrets who depend on you.
 
The fact that you are having an autopsy done is a very good thing, and will
actually hep to ease your pain as well as protect your other ferrets.
 
From what you say of the initial results - neoplasms of the liver and
kidneys as well as insulinoma can actually result in hindlimb paralysis.
Remember, hindlimb paralysis is a very common and non-specific sign of
disease in ferrets which is most often simply the result of muscle wasting
of the hindlegs.  Neoplasms are a common cause of generalized weight loss
and muscle wasting in ferrets - a gross oversimplification of the situation
is that the body spends most of its nutrients growing the tumor, to the
detriment of the rest of the body.
 
One key to this autopsy however, expecially in cass of ADV, and a mistake
that I see all of the time, is that the spinal cord and brain should be
examined.  In any case showing neurological signs (and inability to walk
is certianly one) way too many vets do not submit tissue from the nervous
system - the most important of all in these cases.  Spinal cord, peripheral
nerve, and brain should all be colelcted and submitted.  It sure seems
logical, but these are not easy nor quick to remove at autopsy and so many
vets just skip them, taking the easily obtainable organs of the chest and
the abdomen.
 
In cases of ADV with hinlimb paralysis as the presenting sign - you
generally can't make a definitive diagnosis with spinal cord.
 
(Listen up, all you vets lurking out there!)
 
With kindest regards,
 
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
[Posted in FML issue 3197]