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]