Hi :o)
 
I had a kit break her front leg this year.  She was only 11 weeks old.  The
break was solid, the bone had snapped clean in half, and was overlapping
itself.  (I saw the xrays, it was really quite an achievment!!)
 
The vet told me to keep her in *complete* confinement (as in, cannot move
except her head for food and water, and not far to go to the litter pan) I
kept her in a carrier with a litter pan tied down securely, taking half the
cage, bedding which filled the rest, and food and water attached to the
edge (water in a bottle held outside so that it didn't take space in the
carrier) Within a *very* short time, she was able to run around, climb and
jump again with her siblings.  She stills limps a little, but the break
healed well.
 
When I spoke to my vet, I told him to do whatever would heal the best for
her, regardless of cost.  He gave me the suggestions of a pin in the leg,
a 'cast', tying the leg up for support, or rest.  He told me that rest -
if she was kept in complete confinement - would heal almost as well (if
not *as* well) as the pin would, and that a cast or bandaging her leg would
be difficult or impossible to keep on.
 
I don't know where your baby broke her leg, but mine broke the humerus (the
bone between the shoulder and 'elbow') which would have made the cast not
only difficult, but very uncomfortable, and potentially make things worse.
 
I know this sounds like ridiculous advice from your vet, I felt so too when
I had this situation!  I made calls to the States to people who I *know*
know ferrets and asked their opinion - which concurred with my vets.
Therefore, I would offer the opinion that it's likely that this course of
treatment likely *is* the best for your Missy.  Just make sure that she's
confined fully (don't feel sorry for her and let her run around, that
will make her heal slower) and, to quote my vet, "Make sure she's bored
brainless" - the more bored she is, the more likely she'll sleep.  The
more she sleeps in this time, the faster she'll heal.
 
Good luck with Missy!
 
 Sam
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[Posted in FML issue 2756]