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Subject:
From:
Sukie Crandall <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:41:12 -0500
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Hopefully, the ferret was back at the vet's yesterday and an answer was
found. If not:
ANY serious illness can cause hind leg weakness so if that is what is
occurring then the vet needs to start with tests like a CBC and Chem
Panel, ADV test, chest imaging (because things like heart or lung
disease are among possible causes and need treatment), etc. and widen
out from there. Also, look for signs of ulceration, kidney disease and
so forth by having the vet do other tests like checking the stools,
urine concentration, etc. If heart disease, kidney disease, and a few
others then also discuss the possibilities of thromboses with vet if
the symptoms change to look more consistent w that.

If the symptoms are more neural the vet may still want to do at least
some of those because to find some things in either situation they can
be important.

Causes of neural disease on ferrets include lymphoma in the spinal
cord, ADV, toxoplasmosis which has grown too much in the brain, and
a range of other things.

You can find more possible causes in the FHL Archives, esp. if
neurological symptoms increase:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL2937
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL2862
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL2783
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL2687
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL2491
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1909
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1616
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1377
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1242
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG662
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG8579
etc.

A possible consultant if it is neurological BUT DO NOT THINK
NEUROLOGICAL UPFRONT BECAUSE ANY SERIOUS ILLNESS CAUSES HIND
LEG WEAKNESS IN FERRETS:

Diaz-Figueroa O, Smith MO.
Lake Howell Animal Clinic, 856 Lake Howell Rd, Maitland, FL 32751, USA.
Neurology represents an important specialty within ferret clinical
medicine. Veterinarians should become familiar with the unique
anatomic and physiologic differences between ferrets to improve their
management of theses cases. In addition, veterinarians should use
available diagnostic tests to confirm the presence of neurologic
diseases. Recent advances in ferret medicine and veterinary neurology
offer new capabilities to investigate and treat neurological disease
in ferrets.
PMID: 17765847 [PubMed - in process]
Neuroscience. 2007 Jul 21; [Epub ahead of print]

Again, time for a full work-up since usually those symptoms are a
serious illness other than a neurological one, but the neuro stuff in
some of the links is included if needed because honestly, it can be
hard to find.

Also, check blood glucose again to be safest.

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 5828]


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