Regina writes:
>Lastly, I can't remember who recently adopted a former breeder ferret named
>Angel, but she wrote that Angel continually turns in circles.  A friend of
>mine who raised mice inadvertantly wound up with a litter of mice who did
>that-- their dad did too, so it appeared to be genetic (somebody who didn't
>know better put him in with the females).  it was really sad to see those
>poor mice, and I hope that Angel manages to compensate for it.  One thing
>does occur to me though-- I'm sure she's been taken to the vet already, who
>would have done an ear check, but I wonder if there's any possibility that
>she has an ear parasite or an infection affecting her sense of balance.
 
The circling you described can be caused by any one of a number of
infectious and noninfectious diseases effecting the brain or middle ear.  It
would be more productive to have your local vet look at it than try to
diagnose or treat it yourself.
 
--
Bruce S. Levine, DVM
 
"Lost in Cyberspace"
[Posted in FML issue 1725]