Lucy, my 3 year old female was perfectly normal until Thursday night.  When
play time came, she didn't get out of her cage.  It seemed that she
couldn't support her weight on her back legs.  She also had a fever.  Then
I noticed she had had yellow (not green, very yellow) diarrhea of a strange
consistency.  Her lower belly was very tender.  She would take Nutri-Cal
and water, but no food.  Lab results showed elevated liver studies and WBC.
X-rays were normal for any type of fracture but did show distended colon
which resolved over the next 36 hours as her yellow diarrhea continued.
Her diarrhea got to the point of being complete liquid before it started
resolving.  The abdominal tenderness went away with the distention.
Yesterday, her fever was down, but she still had the severe weakness of her
hind-side.  This morning, she was almost comatose.  Therapy has included
fluids and antibiotics.  Our vet tried to shock her system with cortisone
this morning to see if that would do anything.  She did perk up a bit after
that but now she has total paralysis of her hind-side.  The two things we
have in mind are Aleutian Disease or ECE but she doesn't really fit the
pattern of either of those two illnesses.  I know they don't always follow
the text book example.  I haven't been able to get any of my 4 to read the
book yes.  They seem to enjoy making our Vet work for the right answer.
Any suggestions from anyone that has seen this type of thing before would
be greatly appreciated.  I don't honestly think she will be with us long
enough for the other lab studies to get back unless things change quickly.
Guess I should tell you she is a rescue baby that we got Thanksgiving Day.
Her cage mate from the previous home as well as our other two fuzzies are
showing no symptoms at this point.  She was a biter and afraid of people
when we first got her, but now she's my one and only cuddle kid.  You folks
know how I feel right now, so please, any ideas would be appreciated by me
and our Vet.....and if you don't have a suggestion, a prayer will be
appreciated.
 
Deb (me).....Sam, Rosco, Jake, and Little Lucy
[Posted in FML issue 2588]