Hi all - my computer has been down & not feeling well. However, thanks to Howard D., it is back and I've pulled in my back issues of FML. Haven't read all & don't have time, but was caught by Cathy's letter about her ferret who has lost back leg control. Probably the vet doc's and Cathy's vet has solved the problem by now, but I thought I would tell you of an experience I had last week with seven year old Dawn. My ferrets stay out and in the bedroom while I am away or at work. Last Friday, I returned home to find that Dawn had been inadvertently left out all day. While she had access to Cuddle's water bowl - she had no food source. (cannot keep bowl out since Cuddles will eat it). She was in the hall dragging herself by her front legs. She was unable to gain her feet even with help. I did a quick assessment, not knowing if it was injury or what, and placed her on the floor in the bedroom by food and water. While I set up the hospital cage, she proceeded to chug away at the food and water. She ate quite a lot. She was not cold - normal warm. Placed in the hospital cage, she tried to use the litter box and scrabbled around frantically because she could not gain her feet. Even with my supporting her, she was upset. Finally, she eliminated bowel and bladder flat on her tummy with her rear legs spread. I was glad to note she had control of bowel and bladder. All of this was at about 10:30p.m. Friday night. Since she was eating and not in pain, I decided to get her to the vet first thing Sat. morning. meantime, I hit Fox's Diseases and Biology of the Ferret, looking under CNS problems. Some I was able to rule out right away, but there seemed to be several possibilities. Since she continued to eat and drink from time to time, I kept a watch over her. She was not displaying symptoms of drinking too much fluid with too frequent elimination (Diabetes).. She did not seem to be in pain which would signal injury. I could not feel any areas of swelling on or in her body. Her lungs were clear. her heart sounds, rythym and rate were normal. After four hours, she still had loss of motility in hind quarters. and so I decided to give her prednisone and glucose. I felt she might be hypoglycemic. My clue here was the fact that she had been cut off from her food source for so long. I knew that hypoglycemia might cause the loss of rear coordination. Saturday was awful -- all my vets were unavailable or gone. However, Sat. morning Dawn was on her feet, but weak. That evening I repeated the pred -- and during the day gave her glucose a couple of times. She continued to eat. Well, to make a long story somewhat shorter. By the time I reached a vet, it turned out that my "by process of elimination" diagnosis was correct. Yesterday she had a check up and passed with flying colors. She is back to normal. And she was suffering from hypoglycemia. Don't know if this could be your problem, Cathy, but thought the experience might be of some help if I passed it along. Regarding the ferret with anal abcess -- if ferret is descented, probably scent gland tissue left behind. When the scent gland, or glands are not completely removed, the partial gland can later cause problems - such as what you are experiencing. Sometimes the gland can actually be shattered leaving pieces behind which can be a mess for the vet to remove those pieces and painful for the ferret. However, the surgery needs to be done. I went through this with one of my Canadians. Also, for the record, I do not believe in descenting ferrets if they are whole kits when purchased and later neutered. The occasional release of musk from the glands is a small price to pay to spare your ferret the agony of the surgical proceedure in an older animal. Tip for a scent release -- pick up the offender and quickly rinse the rear end under the faucet. Blot dry. Bad scent gone. Best to all. meg P.S. whole hobs in season are pretty stinky most of the time, but your nose does get immune : ) Whole jills, of which I seem to have a zillion, like to get in little spats, where both will release their glands. This seems to be a "jill thing", and can be aggravating for the long suffering owner -- especially if they have a tiff under the covers while their human is sleeping. This catapults me out of bed pretty fast. I think that plan this. meg [Posted in FML issue 1414]