anneinchicago <[log in to unmask]> wrote on 3/6/2006, 2:00 AM:
>So there is no one here wih help or advice on what to do for a stroke?
>Unbelievable.
 
As is usual for me, I am several days behind, and trying to catch up.
 
I am not sure if this is the kind of advise you are looking for.  A
few months back, one of my older girls had what we thought was a small
stroke.  She lost the ability to use her front and back legs on one side,
and turned her body toward that side into a 'C' shape.  Fortunately,
within 24 hours she had greatly improved, and within 48 hours was back
to normal.
 
Things like this always seem to happen on the weekend for me, and so she
could not get to the vet until the next day, and by then was greatly
improved.  The vet thinks in her case it was a small clot that caused the
problem.  This ferret has a serious cardiac problem, and so her blood
flow is impaired.
 
My vet suggested I start giving her 1/4 of a baby aspirin twice a week,
to help prevent any future problems like this.
 
I would not start baby aspirin without checking with your vet, though.
The aspirin will thin the blood, and also hinder clotting ability.  It
should not be given if the ferret has ulcers or anything else that might
bleed.
 
Beyond that, I would use simple therapy type exercises to work the
affected areas.  I imagine the type of therapy would be very similar
to what they would do with humans.
 
According to my vet, who has many years experience treating ferrets,
strokes in ferrets are uncommon, which is probably why no one responded.
Also, usually when they do happen the are fatal.
 
I am sorry I could not be of more help.
--
Danee DeVore
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://www.ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com
You can help fight ADV!
Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/
[Posted in FML issue 5174]