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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2011 23:27:03 GMT -5
Hunter woke this evening unable to use his hind legs at all, even after mealtime. He has had no access to any foreign objects, has not lost any weight, no hair loss and has not been lethargic. Mouth pawing due to bad teeth, he has his teeth cleaned with oxyfresh and marshall's gel which helps. (Red gums improved greatly and will now chew bones) Vet is open 8-2 tomorrow so I plan a trip asap, however tips in the meantime may help me sleep tonight:(
he ate his chicken with no problem and was playful tonight from the waist up. He can pee, he had pee on his body and I gave him a quick warm bath and dried and wrapped him up...no falls or accidents that we know of, my son was home all day and did not hear any noises. My son does not play with the ferrets (he likes reptiles) but he is responsible enough to tell me if something happened. They usually play in the am before I go to work and sleep in dark during day and I take them out around 10pm to the play room. He was fine this am.... He went in playpen tonight instead because his legs are not supporting him.
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Post by Heather on Apr 9, 2011 1:22:23 GMT -5
How old is Hunter? Could he have fallen? even off a step or the bed? From a shelf in his cage? He could have also thrown something called a spinal thrombosis. It's like a stroke. It's often a strong indicator of heart problems. This is really up to a vet to diagnose, hopefully it is nothing more than a strain and he gets well soon. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 7:12:14 GMT -5
he possibly could have had a bad step, he has a multi level home-being a rescue we are not sure of his age but I believe he is the oldest by looking at his teeth. He pooped last night so I feel a little better (I was worried he would not poop) he wiggled his tail and toes when I wet him and bathed the pee offhim this am. calling vet now they opened at 8. thank you for your kind info, it is nice to have people with experience to talk to
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 7:34:32 GMT -5
Turned down by 2 exotic vets so far, anyone reccommend a vet in VA that is not so far as Alexandria? I am in south central virginia
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Post by shilohismygirl on Apr 9, 2011 7:45:47 GMT -5
Oh goodness! I hope you find someone soon! I'm in KY, but I wish I knew someone near you!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 9:56:03 GMT -5
I am at a vet now that can see him>whew< it feels better just to have this network of people to talk to<3
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Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 9, 2011 10:07:12 GMT -5
Hold him under his arms so that his legs are hanging. Then grab each hind foot with your thumb and index finger and kind of pinch or pull the foot. What does he do when you do this? Does he pull his foot up or does it just hang? If he does not pull his foot up (which is what they do instinctively) then my guess would be (not in order) 1) spine injury from an unnoticed fall in the multi-level cage, 2) spinal tumor 3) stroke and/or heart problems. insulinoma is a possibility (but you say he's not showing any of the other classic signs of insulinoma). How is he breathing? I would keep him in a one level cage so that he doesn't make things worse in case it is a spine injury. Hope things get better soon for your baby.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 10:40:24 GMT -5
Keep us posted on your baby! He's in my prayers
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Post by Sherry on Apr 9, 2011 11:39:41 GMT -5
What has the vet had to say? Keeping you and little Hunter in my thoughts
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Post by Heather on Apr 9, 2011 11:46:11 GMT -5
Thank goodness you found a vet....you've got to love the vets who are willing to take the money on the checkups and claim to work with exotics but run when things start getting complicated Please keep us posted. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 13:45:23 GMT -5
Doc did the reflex test you described-he exibits no pain reaction however he does reflexively pull his feet to the stimulus. She prescribed a steroid and rest. She said he needs to lose weight to reduce pressure on spine for long term
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 14:50:44 GMT -5
I put Maisey with him because he looked so lonely..she is a snuggler. His pee keeps dribbling, anyone use a diaper with a ferret before? What would be the safest cleanser for him (I think I should bathe him so the urine does not bother his skin?)
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Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 9, 2011 14:58:30 GMT -5
no x-ray? Is he able to empty his bladder?? It is important that he is able to urinate. For the urine dribble just wash the area with warm water a few times a day. No need to use soap. As for weight loss, what are you feeding him? Kibble tends to make them overweight. how you can tell if he is unable to empty his bladder: if he is running to the corners or litter box and frantically tries to run back and forth backing up and nothing comes out. also if you pick him up and you feel between his legs (below his penis but more towards the bottom if you palpate towards the spine (you have to get in there kind of) you will feel the bladder. if it is full it will feel kind of hard. hard to explain. anyway, if you see that he is trying to urinate and can't, and if you feel that his bladder is big and hard and if he struggles , whimpers, etc. when you are touching it, then this usually means that it is full and he cannot empty it himself. you can try putting him in warm water or take a cloth with warm water and press it up to the penis area. and that might help him urinate. or, if that doesn't work you may have to ask the vet to show you how to empty his bladder yourself. for the dribbling I'd just change his blankets frequently. Unless you want to try strapping a panty liner to his wee wee area. But I'm sure he'll remove it. most important don't let him stay in an area where he can fall again. If you can, restrict him to one level of his cage. They sell a liquid glucosamine with chondroitin for dogs and cats (I have even found a sugar free kind) you can give this to him straight or in his water. It seemed to help my friend's ferret (spine injury after being stepped on accidentally).
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Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 9, 2011 16:00:35 GMT -5
Mouth pawing due to bad teeth. this kind of concerns me also. mouth pawing (which is a sign of nausea) and staggering or dragging the hind legs are often signs associated with insulinoma. not all ferrets with insulinoma exhibit the same signs. for example, my ferret had insulinoma and never drooled, never "stared off into space" etc. he stumbled around when he first woke up, then lay flat. then he kind of would recover. the signs were vague at first. one of my friend's ferrets dragged her hind legs. can you have your vet perform a blood glucose test ? your ferret should be on a 4 hour fast for this.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 20:23:00 GMT -5
The vet did not perform x ray or blood test, however I am to call her with an update on his condition this coming week. His blankies seem to be quite wet, however I will check his bladder when I bathe him tonight-thanks for the tip-he does not seem aware he has to go, but he goes anyway. He is well litter box trained but hasn't attempted it. He just poops without knowing it, but his muscles and tail do the twitchy movements normally. He just can't feel it happening. I feel bad when he wakes and wants to have a good scratch and turns his body to go for it and nothing happens I have to reach in and scratch for him because he seems to really enjoy it. Thank you everyone for your ideas, support and prayers<3
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