Ok groups... I need some help.  We have a 1 1/2 year old angora male
ferret (Angus) that was active and healthy.  We've seen him wobble a
little since coming here about 3 weeks ago but we figured it was cause
he is kinda lanky and there have been no other signs of insulinoma and
plus he's so young.  The home he was at before we wonderful and he was
eating great ferret food.  So no abuse there.
 
Last night I pulled him out of the dresser drawer Friday night and knew
something was wrong.  His legs were stiff and he was not moving much.
There was a little bit of gunk around his eyes.  All 4 legs were
stretched out and his toes were stretched too.  His tail was poofed.
 
We got him to eat a jar of baby food and got some pred.  and antibiotics
into him.  His body temp seems to be ok.  We got him moving though not
much cause he kept falling over (not just his rear losing balance but his
whole side).  He ended up pooping on himself that night after we put him
in bed to rest some.
 
We kept an eye on him Saturday and Sunday.  There was no improvement from
what I can see.  He took his meds like a good boy and is eating jar of
baby food (watered down with soup) at a time (about 3 a day.
 
spleen appears ok
no lumps in tummy
no nasal discharge
not dehydrated
gums appear normal
paw pads appear normal
ADV test was negative
Some discharge from his eyes
Ears are just a little dirty
 
He does seem to yawn a lot when he is awake and appears to be frightened
(wided eyed and lost).  He has a hard time walking and falls over.  Both
his front and back legs just don't seem to be working right.  No known
trama and him and a group of 9 others are free roam.  Does not eat human
food.  He does NOT appear to be in any pain.  There is nothing toxic that
he could have gotten into that we know of.
 
He went to the vets today (Shawn took him).  The vet said either
insulinoma or neurological.  At a year and a half I have a hard time
seeing insulinoma.  Plus his symptoms just don't seem right for
insulinoma (we have had insulinomic ferrets before and currently have
some too).
 
The vet gave him some sub-q fluids and a shot of dextrose.  The vets we
have here are rather new to ferrets.  Our really good ferret vet left.
They are willing to learn... but need help to do so.
 
Thoughts brought up by other shelters:
 
ADV (no exposure to other ferrets and was ADV tested a year ago)
Insulinoma
Lyme Disease (no ticks or fleas around and no sign of a bite anywhere on
him)
 
Any thoughts on what it could be?  Please.... I need help here.  This is
so different from all the other ferrets we've had come in and out of our
doors.  If you have a great ferret vet that would be willing to read this
and offer advice to either me or to the vet please let me know.
 
My cell:  (520) 234-4172
 
I have a call into the vet to talk to her cause I'm not happy.  She
didn't do an x-ray or BG test and I honestly don't know why.  She did
examine him very well according to Shawn.  She does have a ferret of
her own.
 
Joanne
Ferret Corner Shelter
www.geocities.com/ferretcorner
[Posted in FML issue 4964]