To Don:
 
>He gets around O.K.  but his back feet stick out like flippers and he
>doesn't seem to be able to stand up straight on them.  He gets around
>Sea-Lion fashion.  He is perfectly O.K.  otherwise really friendly and a
>general chunk of a ferret.  Anybody have any idea what could have gone
>wrong?  I saw others in the litter alot worse and some in another litter
>with the same problem.
 
        Don- it certainly sounds genetic, especially if there are more than
one affected in the same litter.  Ferrets can have a lot of deformities as a
result of inbreeding.  I would suspect something like this may be going on.
It would be interesting to look at a radiograph and see if the legs are
deformed in themselves, or if it is a neurological problem that prevents
proper use.  It's a wonderful thing that you are willing to take care of
this handicapped ferret...
 
Bruce H. Williams, DVM         Dept. of Veterinary Pathology
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
[log in to unmask]         Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
                               [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1224]