Hi,
 
I'm hoping others can share some tips that have helped their ferrets with
one or both of these diseases since I don't know for sure which one is
the culprit.  It could even be both.
 
Background: 6+ y/o ferret with Adrenal disease, Cardiomyopathy and
Insulinoma (in that order).  Being treated with heart medications
(Furosemide, Benazepril, Digoxin) and supplements for the heart (taurine,
vit e, l-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, co q10 enzyme), Lupron, oral
Melatonin, Diazoxide and Prednisolone.
 
Last Friday night she stopped being able to use her right, rear leg.  It
hasn't gotten any better and she's still limping (and then falls over)
and hobbling around just a bit.  Pred has been increased to 3xs a day
and she's currently eating a mixture of ground kibble, Hill's A/D and
Gerber's turkey every 3-4 hrs.  Normally she eats chicken gravy but lost
interest about a month ago.  I plan to make a fresh batch before long in
hopes that she will eat it.  Her vet didn't think x-rays or blood work
was necessary and believes it's due to the progression of her heart
disease and insulinoma.
 
I checked her leg later Friday night and the bones felt like those of
the left leg.  She didn't seem to be in any pain and there wasn't any
swelling, though I wonder if having Pred on board may have reduced both.
Yesterday there was a strong pulse but I don't know if that was the case
a few days ago.  I've been massaging the leg/hip/foot since Sat and it
seems a little stronger and feels plumper now, not as 'skin and bones' as
before.  I started range-of-motion exercises yesterday.  I was thinking
maybe a thrown clot but the vet said no since the pulse was so strong
yesterday (saw one vet Sat morning and a different one Tue).  She's also
sleeping under blankets now, something she rarely did before, which makes
me think the problem is related more to the heart and circulation.
 
I know about Devil's Club Supreme.  I'm just concerned about giving it
since she has Cardiomyopathy and none of her vets have any idea whether
it is safe.  I've ordered Oxbow's Carnivore Care and have a sample of
Wysong's Archetype (canine/feline) on the way.  I want to see if those
make any difference since both contain high amounts of meat protein.
Though I saw where Archetype now contains some fruits and other things
that it didn't at one time (back when Dr. Susan Brown wrote about ferret
diets).  Does anyone have any other ideas or know if massaging the leg
will make any appreciable difference?
 
Thanks.
Silverfert
[Posted in FML issue 5211]