Hi - I'm a new member, your mailing list was recommended to me by the
owner of a ferret website.  I wondered if you could help with this -
 
We live in the UK, and have not been able to find a veterinarian who is
particularly 'ferret friendly'.
 
We got our two baby ferrets about a year ago, and sadly lost one of them
yesterday.  She did not display any signs of progressive illness, but
showed complete hind end paralysis, she screamed when picked up, and bit;
which was very out of character.  Our vet took x-rays, which did not show
anything, but he said that she had broken her back and that there was
nothing they could do, so we felt we had no option but to have her put to
sleep.
 
Today, I was trawling ferret web-pages and found details of AD, which shows
progressive paralysis as a symptom, and a message on a notice board I
looked at mentioned 'another virus' which shows temporary paralyis as a
symptom.  Do you know anything about these viruses?  I have since found out
that most 'major ferret illnesses' manifest themselves with this symptom.
I feel our Mischief may have died as a result of a fall, but I am worried
about her sister - if it is a virus, we might lose her too.  Though I also
feel we may have had a different outcome to this heartbreaking issue if we
had used a different vet.
 
Can you help, or advise me where I can learn more about these 'temporary
paralysis' viruses?
 
Kind regards
 
Angela
[Posted in FML issue 3478]