Dear Tikki Mite ( Terry )
I recently adopted a female sable from our local Humane Society with the
same condition.  The vet for the Humane Society diagnosed her as possibly
having irreversible spinal cord damage suggesting spinal x-rays for further
assessment of her condition also saying that she probably would not walk
again.  When I saw her in the cage I took her out and let her try to get
around but she would only drag her hind legs with her stronger front ones.
I suspected that she was kept in such a confined area that she had no reason
to move or stand to carry on her daily functions and thus lost some control
and muscle mass as a result of that confinement.  I saw something very
interesting in this ferret, when held on her back, she would kick
rhythmically with her hind legs left, right, left, right, paralyzed animals
do not have any such control.
 
I set out to rehabilitate this so-called gimp with the following plan.  I
started her out with twice daily water therapy sessions where I hold her on
her back in a tub of water and let her kick her feet, 10 mins.  each session
and progressively longer as her kicking got stronger.  After her water
session, I would make her walk up the driveway, which is about 30 ft.  long,
a couple of times, with a little stabilizing from me.
 
Observation and innovation are your most powerful tools if you want to help
Simon overcome his disability.  I say this because I noticed that my girl
wanted to walk with her legs almost totally crossed or she would step on her
toes with every step she took.  If you tried to walk with one foot in front
of the other you would not have anywhere the balance that you have with your
legs shoulder width apart.  Noticing this, I devised an appliance to force
her to spread her legs in a more natural way.  The device consisted of a
rubber band and a 1 inch dia.  fishing bobber, one end of the rubber band
fastened to the top of the bobber and the other to the bottom, slip this
around her waist with the bobber between her legs and the difference is
amazing.
 
The biggest problem facing these ferrets is atrophy in the hind muscle, so
the remedy to this is exercise and a strong diet of good high protein food.
I have never seen an animal as determined as a ferret to get what it wants,
and I see this in my little girl and from what I read of your Simon as well.
 
Start on the water treatment and if you see that rhythmic pumping of his
legs, have great hope that he will walk again, be as persistent as Simon and
you will achieve what you want, Simon walking again.
 
                                 Kisses and Courage for Simon,
                                   Daniel Poryanda
[Posted in FML issue 2012]