I was asked to do this for a newsletter, so decided to make it useable
for free to any newsletter, website or magazine as long as two criteria
are followed: it may not be altered in any form or amount (including
alterations to this paragraph) and you have to credit both the
Ferret Health List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list/ and the
Ferret Mailing List ([log in to unmask] to join, and archives
at http://listserv.cuny.edu/archives/ferret-search.html )
since you read it here.
--Sukie
***Kalinka is falling over***
ANY major health problem can cause hind leg weakness. It is one of those
general signs of health difficulties which call for a vet appointment, so
don't wait -- call now.
One of the first things your vet will do will be to check your ferret's
blood sugar. Have an idea how recently the ferret ate last and what was
eaten. For precise measures of blood sugar fasting blood tests are used,
but it is always a good idea when symptoms of possible insulinoma exist to
do one without fasting first. Some ferrets have worked their way through
to an advanced level of insulinoma before showing symptoms and a person
would not want to fast such an individual. (BTW, the approaches used if
it is insulinoma can vary depending on the level of disease.)
What if it's not insulinoma causing the hind leg weakness? Then your vet
will look for signs of other possible causes: injury, serious infection,
other diseases. If a fever is present then it may be easy to figure it
out. If not, then the ferret may need further tests such as a CBC, other
blood tests depending on symptoms, x-rays for injury or maybe for possible
heart disease causing weakness if the other symptoms add up in that
direction.
***Sling those Hose***
What if your ferret has a permanent injury to the spine or spinal cord
that prevents walking, or an illness such as lymphoma in these areas?
Years ago the folks at http://www.doggon.com who also make
travel-chairs/wheelchairs for animals in need of such help -- including
ferrets -- came up with a much-copied idea: pantyhose slings. These are
easily made, but DO check first with your vet to make sure that it is not
inappropriate for your individual ferret or that furry's stage of illness
or recovery. To top it off, you can select the size for the person using
it to prevent stooping while you help your ferret, and can even buy
different color pantyhose to make into color-coded slings for each member
of the family to use so that no one gets a sore back. Just place one
panty hose foot over the other and sew these so that they form a flat
hammock for the ferret's belly. Then roll the tops and sew these into a
handy sausage shaped handle. Bingo! You have a sling to help any ferret
with mobility problems be able to get around with your help. Expect to
see some very real joy!
If the situation is one marked by controllable pain do ask your vet about
trying steroids, or possibly opiates, or both to give optimal quality of
life for as long as possible.
***Finding health info***
There is a great deal of absolutely marvelous health info out there for
everyone, much of it written by vets. Here are five more fine places to
begin.
If you begin at the FHL do remember that the site has a search engine,
files, and bookmarks as well as having the list and its on-going health
discussions. The search engine which goes through archived past posts
works in chunks so if the group that has just been searched does not have
the info you need just hit "Next" and check the next group till you find
what you need.
The other sites are ones which provide links to further health info so
can help you narrow the amount of resources in which you need to search
by helping you refine your resource list.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list/
http://www.ferret.net/medical/
http://www.trifl.org/medical.html
http://advancedhelp.org
http://geocities.com/sukieslist
[Posted in FML issue 3742]
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