>My ferret Fig probably developed IBD after ECE in February.  She
>wouldn't put weight back on after the ECE cleared up, had extremely high
>serum lipase and had granular stool for a long time after.  She went
>through almost three months of hind leg paresis, otherwise seeming alert
>and happy.  Aleutians test was negative.  Her muscle tone wasn't too bad,
>it was down some because of the weight loss, but it was hard for me and
>my vet to think that the paresis was due to loss of muscle mass.
 
Dear Y:
 
Hindlimb weakness is the most common and one of the most confusing signs
in ferrets, as it appears with many many conditions.  For this reason, I
believe that loss of muscle is the most important factor, as there is
little else that can tie such disparate diseases such as heart disease,
many malignancies, IBD, and even Aleutian disease together.
 
Additionally, it is as often as not accompanied by no change in
bloodwork, which would tend to argue against electrolyte imbalance.  The
theory about inflammation in the colon leading to nerve damage in the
legs is not really an adequate one, as the autonomic innervation to the
intestinal tract and the motor innervation to the legs arise in different
areas of the spinal cord.
 
The most important point is that she is now walking.  Isn't it amazing
how ferrets never give up?
 
With kindest regards (but little else concrete to say on hindlimb weakness)
Bruce Williams, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3861]