I'm no stranger to ferrets - I've had them for over 12 years and know
all about (and have had ferrets with) all the diseases but this is the
first time I've had one with a head injury.

I have an old house with bedroom closet doors with gaps underneath them
enough for the ferret to easily slink in and out. Late Sunday night
Puck was digging at the carpet in my closet so I went in the bedroom
to get him. I opened the door rather quickly and as I did he went to
dive under it - and his forehead got caught under it as I opened it
out. I guess the door isn't level so as it swung out the distance to
the carpet is less - and it pinned him to the floor. I slowly moved it
back and he got free. But then he was just laying there speed bumping.
I picked him and he already had a bump forming on his forehead. I put
some ice on his forehead and contemplated rushing him to an emergency
vet in case I'd crushed his skull but there's no ferret vets open that
late here. And a minute later he wriggled free and dashed off to play.

This is what he looked like just after it happened -
http://www.ferretocious com/puck/profile2.jpg

And a normal profile to compare -
http://www.ferretocious.com/puck/profile1 jpg

I kept checking him the rest of the night and he was playing just like
normal. He also ate plenty of kibble later in the evening.

I took him to the vet when I went in Tue (since they were closed
Mon for Memorial Day) for a recheck of Roxy's blood sugar (she's
insulinomic) and had the vet examine him. She said his eyes were fine,
mouth fine, teeth fine, vitals fine, everything seemed ok but that she
couldn't feel around on his skull because it was so swollen. She gave
me Metacam pain meds for him and told me if it the swelling didn't go
down within a week to bring him back in for an Xray.
This is how he looked Tue -
http://www.ferretocious com/puck/puck052709-1.jpg

Has anyone had a similar injury to a ferret? Should I get the Xray down
now and not wait? The vet didn't seem too concerned that it's anything
serious but I'm just worried. Any input from you guys would be greatly
appreciated.

And by the way - so this doesn't happen again I'm taking that door
off the hinges, putting it in my basement and putting a curtain there
instead. I measured that door - it's only a 1 3/4" space under the
door that narrows to 1 1/2" when the door's swung out - no wonder
he got stuck. The other door is 2 3/4" and 2 1/2" when it swings out.

Laura

[Posted in FML 6347]