Hi there,
 
Got another medical question that I couldn't answer.  Any help would be
appreciated.  You can either respond to me through the FML, regular Email at
SMarkowitz@[log in to unmask] or to the poster directly.  If you do post to
Cathy directly, please CC me so I know she's gotten some help.  thanks
Everyone!!!
 
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From: Cathy Thompson, 102377,471
Topic: Help - Droopy Ferret!
Date: Tue, Dec 12, 1995, 11:01:04 PM
[Moderator's note: email for Cathy is [log in to unmask]  BIG]
 
Help!  I'm not sure where to turn, but I know there are some very informed
ferret people out there who may be able to help us out.
 
I've been reading messages in this forum for quite some time and have
enjoyed every one.  I have downloaded the ferret.faq and numerous other
things in the library, but none seeme to help out with our particular
problem..  Even the vets are clueless.
 
Reba is droopy!  She behaves normally in most other ways, but when she walks
she only uses her front legs and drags her hinny around.  The vet has done
numerous costly tests, but to no avail.  Her back legs have good muscle tone
and reflexes, she seems to be in no pain, she is capable of moving her back
legs on her own, but just chooses not to.  She is about 2 1/2 yrs old and
about 2 1/2 lbs.  Her temp was elevated to 104 last night but was normal
when they took it this morning.  They have done numerous radiographs, and
can find nothing wrong with her back, hips, etc.  Her spleen looked enlarged
but not huge.  Her heart looked alittle enlarged also, but they thought that
was probably a secondary problem, or maybe just normal for her.  Possibly
heart worms?  they asked, but I doubt it cuz she's only been outside for
just a very short time meeting the neighbors this past summer.  No blockages
Poop seems to be a combination of normal with a little runny stuff for
excitement.  That's always nice when she's dragging her butt across the
living room floor!
 
Blood work was pretty normal.  White count normal, proteins elevated
slightly, but nothing really to suggest a major problem.  The vet put her on
an antibiotic, because her lungs looked a little cloudy and he thought she
may be getting pnumonia, and gave her a shot of a steriod, to see if maybe
she was in a little pain it would aleviate it enough to where she would walk
normally again.  But there is no change.  She's been like this for a couple
of weeks now and I'm really beginning to get more worried.  She is really my
son's pet, but I've grown so attached to her....  We seem to have exhausted
all ideas that we can think of that could be wrong with her.  The vet thinks
that maybe she's just overweight and is too lazy to hold herself up
properly.  Could this be?  Have any of you ever heard of such a thing??  Or
do you have any other ideas of what could be wrong.  We're at our wits end.
She seems happy enough.  Eats well.  Sleeps soundly, of course!  And in all
other ways, seems perfectly normal.  ( I can hardly call her a carpet shark
this way!) Thanks, CAT and Reba
[Posted in FML issue 1411]