Hi everyone,
 
I hope someone out there can help calm me down and tell me that everything
will be alright.
 
Snookie, my 3.5 year old male, somehow compressed the area between his C6
and C7 vertibrae (whichever is right below the shoulders).  I'm not sure how
it happened, but that's not what concerns me right now.
 
He can somewhat use his rear legs, but only while burrowing under stuff.  He
cannot stand and expect to use them.  Now his front legs are getting weak.
He can barely get into the litter tray.
 
My vet gave him a shot of steroids and something else (I can't remember).  I
am having the X-rays sent to Auburn University to get a second opinion.
 
Can anyone tell me if there is any hope of Snookie successfully making it
through a surgery of this type?  I understand that there are a lot of
factors, but generally speaking, if Snookie had surgery, what would/could
the quality of life be afterwards?  I'm supposed to see the vet again on
Friday, but so far, it doesn't look like the steroids have helped much.
 
Who could/would do this type of surgery?
 
I'm so upset.  He is my first ferret of what is now four.  To see him like
this is so difficult.  If the success rate of this type of surgery is
relatively high, I may go ahead and try it.  He is the same ferret, only his
limbs are failing.  He still tries to play every now and then (even though I
have been told not to encourage it, to keep him in his cage,etc.), so if
there is ANY way that I can restore most or all of the usage of his limbs,
I'd do it.
 
Please call collect and/or write.  I really could use some encouraging
words.
 
Thanks.
 
-Mark Zmyewski
 Huntsville, Alabama
 (205) 536-6348
      or
 (205) 533-3767
 
 
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[Posted in FML issue 2011]