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Post by RedSky on Apr 15, 2015 7:19:01 GMT -5
So I thought I would start a diary to keep an update of Mako's movements day to day.
I'll start with yesterday. Feel free to comment and give any advice. But mostly I just want somewhere to write all this down where the much more experienced (heck took me ages to figure out his walk wasn't just him being odd) can tell me if there seems to be something wrong, or I'm doing something wrong.
Anyway
Day 0:
Vet trip went well, had steroid shot.
Came home and let him out with for a while. He curled up and went to sleep. Saw no harm in him staying out if he was sleeping anyway. Let the other two out, kept Korra away, Bolin went to cuddle up with him.
Put him away in half the CN. He wasn't happy. Trying to climb the bars, dig out, not eating. Figured he would settle but every time there was a noise he would start up again.
Gave in and my OH and I made a playpen out of wooden boards. Gives him a bit more room and he's in a different room away from the other two. Bit of noise to start with, but he settled and didn't hear anything loud enough to wake us up during the night (he's in the next room with both doors open).
Day 1 (today):
He ate the 3oz of soup I put in, and I gave him the left over quail from last night (he got the quail first too). Heard him munching but each time he hears or sees me he starts trying to climb/dig out. Shut the door in hopes it would help. Can't hear any noise now, assuming he's gone back to sleep.
I'm worried about letting the other two out as they will dig at the door to see him. Might limit them to my bedroom for today. Can't put any of them downstairs as we have pet rodents and the rest of the house isn't 'ferret proof', don't want to risk it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2015 8:33:04 GMT -5
Did he get xrayed? My baby had a limp, and got her xrayed--there were no fractures or breaks in limbs and is not limping now.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 15, 2015 9:45:15 GMT -5
Yeah, nothing conclusive on the x-ray. There is something in his knee, but vet and specialists don't think it's related to how he's walking and holding himself. It's like he's drunk.
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Post by acodlin on Apr 15, 2015 10:04:35 GMT -5
Do they have an orthopedic doctor they can send the xrays to for a second opinion?
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Post by RedSky on Apr 15, 2015 12:01:07 GMT -5
Yeah the vet we used sent them to a orthopedic specialist and to an exotic specialist who deals with ferrets much more often than she does in case she was overlooking something.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 15, 2015 20:03:07 GMT -5
Mako's escaped his pen, and is now asleep in my wardrobe. We've decided to let him have freedom for the night, since he's fast asleep anyway. We've moved everything he could climb and put water, food and a puppy pad near the wardrobe for him.
In the morning I'll spilt the CN cage again and I'll have to be tough and ignore his paddying.
I think if Korra wasn't such a problem with the biting and climbing on our bed we would end up with free roamers all the time. It's quite nice to know he's so close by.
Edit: He was quite active about 4am so I went to separate the cage a bit early and put him away. I didn't want to risk him running around while I was sleeping and hurting himself.
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Post by acodlin on Apr 16, 2015 19:56:00 GMT -5
Hopefully you get some feedback from those other doctors soon.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 17, 2015 9:08:09 GMT -5
Sorry, didn't really post anything in this thread about what happened previously.
Before she heard back from the specialists I was told to give metacam (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) and continue as normal. It was after she heard back that they also thought that it was just swelling and from a trauma that they agreed to try steroids and cage rest to see if it helped. If it doesn't they warned it could be insulmonia (but BG was normal) or could be permanent damage.
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Post by crazylady on Apr 17, 2015 11:40:03 GMT -5
Hi Redsky at the first sound of moment he will jump up and want out that's what ferrets do lol ( all of mine can be asleep not a sound I sneak down turn the key and bam its like an explosion of racing feet lol ) try placing him somewhere he cant hear or see whats going on for a few days boredom makes them sleep lol we have a rescue living in the bathroom at the moment lol he gets oh so excited when we go to the loo lol ( I don't I keep telling him its rude to look lol)I cannot wait for his quarantine to be over lol I know its hard trying to keep him still and rested but just keep telling yourself its for his own good sending prayers and good thoughts your way take care bye for now
Bev
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Post by RedSky on Apr 17, 2015 12:01:03 GMT -5
I've checked on him a few times throughout the day, he's been asleep every time. Don't really want to wake him up and get him all excited just to leave him so I've not actually seen him move. I will admit I stood and watched to make sure I could see him breathing... Little paranoid? Me? Nah...
The other two are in the bottom half of the cage so I sneaked them out and locked them in my room with me. Kept them out until they went to sleep then put them back to bed. Don't want them making a fuss in the cage so I thought best take advantage of them being asleep.
Unfortunately since he escaped the pen we made I don't really have anywhere else to put him at the moment, so he's got to share the room with the other still. I think having them near might help him anyway, even if he can't get to them.
I'm trying to feed him larger things to eat so he has to waste lots of energy on chewing and keep him entertained.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 18, 2015 9:22:58 GMT -5
I let him have a quick wonder around today, just while I cleaned his cage. His first few steps, keeping in mind he had just woke up as I opened the cage were very wobbly. Sort of falling over on his back end and walking in a curve.
By the time I had wiped down the cage and put in fresh blankets (not even 10 minutes) he was starting to drag his back end, sort of resting on his hip. I realised I need to start noting which side he's favoring as I'm not sure if he's altering sides or not.
He's eating well though and seems bright enough. Wasn't happy about being put away so soon!
He will be having his first pred tablet with his tea, got out an ice-cube of soup to help it go down.
Bit soon really but I was hoping to start seeing some improvement, if anything he seems worse. He could have just slept funny but I'm not convinced rest is the right way to go. I'll give it a few more days or complete bed rest (just coming out while I clean his cage) and then I'll call the vets on Tuesday to update them.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 24, 2015 7:43:31 GMT -5
Still no improvement and he's only got one tablet left, just got off the phone with our wonderful vet. She's advised we stop the steroids (one more isn't going to make any difference) and go back on the metacam. She wants us to try metacam for a month and then review but thinks it's most likely permanent damage.
But on the up side, Mako can go back to normal, living with the other two again and coming out for the normal daily play. I'm sure that will perk him up.
She mentioned a few things to watch out for, such as appetite loss, being lethargic/depressed and any lack of control over his front end/head. Of course I'll also watch to see if he gets any worse or better when he's back to exercising normally and I'm going to try some massages and water therapy with him.
One other suggestion she had was to give him a very very low dose of vit c, just to help boost his system and it also has been reported to have some anti-inflammatory effects. Any other ideas of what could help ease the inflammation on his spine? He's acting pretty fine and normal but still roles over and mouths when ever we (or the other ferrets) touch his lower back. I think he's in pain, but she's showing no other signs of it.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 24, 2015 11:23:28 GMT -5
First day back with playtime and it's not gone too well. Poor Mako.
Bolin's new found love of wrestling and his exuberance for the 'sport' have landed me trying to decide when to step in. When he's getting a little OTT with Korra I just stand back and let them get on with it. No blood, no pee, no poop, no foul right?
Well I don't feel as confident with Mako, since I think he's in pain and he has this on going back problem, plus neither were letting up. In the end it was just a fuzzy ball as neither wanted to give up their grip on the other. When I heard squeaking I chucked a towel over them, grabbed on in each hand and lifted hoping they would let go. A gentle long blow over both heads got them to let go. A quick break from each other and they seem fine.
Mako took himself off the my wardrobe (Korra can open the door...) and started pulling my clothes of the hangers. Korra went in after him and I heard lots and lots of squeaking. Dashing to the wardrobe Korra came out with an expression that said 'I din't do nuthin' as Mako (now alone) continued. Nothing was on him, but he clearly wasn't happy and the smell that hit me... Cricky! Think I'll be spending the weekend washing all the clothes in there and scrubbing it down. Yikes.
All three are now snuggled up, Korra is grooming his ears, Bolin keeps taking over and Mako seems okay, although he was clingy for 5 or 10 minutes, sleeping at my feet, wanting to come up and be put down every time one of the others walked past.
Hopefully the metacam will help with the pain and things will settle down now they can be back together 24/7.
What an afternoon...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2015 21:09:13 GMT -5
Sorry little man is not better for medicine, but he seems to be enjoying life, and that is what really matters, and he has a good parent to watch over him.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 25, 2015 7:05:48 GMT -5
Thanks, I'm a bit of a stress head when it comes to my pets and I try to do my best for them.
He's perky and happy enough this morning.
I'll keep updating, especially with any 'therapy' I do with him.
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