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Post by Heather on Apr 25, 2015 11:05:41 GMT -5
Just curious but have they checked his heart? From your description I'm wondering if he's had a saddle thrombosis? This is not an unusual problem in ferrets....in humans it would be called a stroke. It's often a precursor to cardiomyopathy. It's just a thought and the steroids and other pain treatments wouldn't work or make this particular issue better. ciao
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Post by RedSky on Apr 25, 2015 19:05:31 GMT -5
I don't think they have, nothing past the basic monitoring for while he was sedated for the x-ray anyway. I shall give them a call on Monday and ask. Thanks for the idea.
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Post by RedSky on May 19, 2015 6:36:19 GMT -5
Wanted to do an update as it's been a while and hoping some further information might spark a thought in one of our numerous amazing knowledgeable ferrents.
He's still 'walking' the same most of the time, dragging along on one hip or another (although seems to be favouring the right, but will happily go along on the left, just depends on he lands). When 'walking' he will just drag along, but if he wants to speed up he uses his back feet (and claws) to grip and push along the carpet. Often when my OH gets home from work he will put his back feet on the floor and do a funny walk to greet him while hopping on his front legs, he gets so excited but I've not been able to get this on camera. If I have the camera out he's more focused on it and slides along as usual.
We're getting there is accepting the water, it's a slow process. If he panics I can't do anything with him, and he worries easily. Poofs and scrambles to get out, struggling at the sides, at me, it's not a nice experience. So I'm taking it super slowly. He likes the water really warm, once it starts to cool he wants out. I'm worried about it being too hot but he tests it like a person would, dipping in a hand. If it's hot enough he climbs in, if not he walks off.
I've noticed wet spots and lines while he's out playing. And while I haven't seen who's doing it there is often poos here and there and in the cage it's everywhere, every morning. Often on the ferrets too. Sometimes I can get away with a quick wipe with a warm damp cloth, sometimes all three need a shower. They like playing in the shower, just don't like it when the water stays put, so it's easy enough. If I pick him up he will often do a bit of a wee or poo on me, today he covered me in wee. Never seen one of them do such a big wee. Funnily I had one of my OH's long sleeve t-shirts on, which 'was' white. Now it's a good urine looking colour... I can't decide if it's pain and he's doing what he would if Korra would be bouncing on him, or if it's a progression of his back problems. He's not poofing and he's my number one poofer! Seriously he poofs because Korra has gone in the wardrobe with him, or because tea is extra yummy.
I'm going to make him another appointment. Any thoughts about what to ask, discuss or anything at all?
Sorry it's so long, and rambled. I'm on some heavy duty painkillers myself and a bit out of it. Thanks for reading.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 9:37:19 GMT -5
Is your doc an exotic vet?
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Post by RedSky on May 19, 2015 10:44:12 GMT -5
Not really no, she's the most knowledgeable for the area. She treats the ferrets and other small animals for the local RSPCA branch even though there are numerous vets much closer to them.
She's one of the best vets we have ever had for any of our pets, she has spoken to a couple of colleges about Mako's case and can continue to include them but they are too far for us to travel to, without an overnight stay. If they wanted to run a list of tests or something we could do that, but not really practical to go there for check ups and each new/worsening symptom.
There is another vet near the rescue that we could potentially use, but the vet we would want to see is in a bit of high demand and doesn't work evening/weekends so getting there would again mean time off work for my OH every time we have an issue. Again would be okay for a one off or a couple of times, but financially we wouldn't be able to afford treatment if we had to go as often as we are at the moment. Rock and a hard place...
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Post by RedSky on May 23, 2015 11:10:49 GMT -5
Took the trio to the vets this morning, I will post about the other two in a separate thread but thought best to explain Mako's update here. He walked while at the vets, like he does when my OH get's home. Sort of crawling along... Wish I could have got it on video. But then true to form reverted to the dragging and so the vet saw him as he usually moves. We talked about his accidents on me and around the cage/house and she felt his bladder. Just a bit of pressure and it was like someone flicked a switch. The table was flooded. She did a quick urine test and there was blood particles in it, so he's on antibiotics (baytril), along with carrying on the metacam. She said the next thing to diagnose would be to send him off for an MRI. She's recommending referring us to one in Chester, I believe it's ChesterGates. She said the MRI specialist there is one of the (if not the) best in the country and while he's not a ferret expert he is an expert in reading the MRI, nerves and all things back related that could/would should on the MRI. My OH (the level headed one in the relationship) asked if they found something, what possible treatment, if any, would be. Our vet said that in cats, dogs or other larger animals they could do spinal surgery. She said finding someone able and willing with a ferret might be difficult but she has someone in mind. She said a name but I can't remember it. Should have written it down. She also said it might not be something we can fix and that in larger animals it would be a case of looking at quality of life (meaning potentially PTS) but since Mako is so happy and not in so much pain that he's not wanting to play or do anything that she's happy to just keep going and treating any arising problems. If he continues to deteriorate then I will looking into sorting a wheelchair for him, but for now I don't think that would help although I would be willing to try if they aren't too expensive. So good news and bad I suppose. If it's treatable finding someone to do it might be difficult, if it's not then our vet is happy that quality of life and with been small and low to the floor anyway he shouldn't have too much of a problem with things. Might have to rethink him being outside, although they are still indoor ferrets for at least another 10 to 12 months.
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Post by RedSky on May 23, 2015 15:09:42 GMT -5
Just wondering, if this is permanent (or while we are waiting for things to happen) could I attempt a ferret nappy? My carpets are going to be ruined, he's left a trail of urine across my carpet, looks like he's writing morse code... and they all love hanging out in my wardrobe, this evening he's pooed in there... Normally it's a bed, and only a bed. I'd hate to limit where he can go but can't replace the carpets in every place upstairs??? Or risk my clothes smelling of poo, smelling ferrety is fine, but poo... Everyone has their limits. Only other thing I can think of is trying to express before he comes out to play and hope that last the entire play time, or maybe check him every three hours, but I'm not sure what I'm feeling or where to gently press (nor how much pressure I should actually be putting on). Vet gave me a quick description of what to feel for, since he was so easy to do it was sort of over before I thought about how to do it at home. She's said twice a day, but normally they all go much more often that that. They are all big drinkers.
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Post by RedSky on May 26, 2015 14:15:36 GMT -5
I'm still struggling with expressing his bladder, it's more of an accident when I do and so I'm still not sure if I'm doing it right.
I need some advice and support. Our vet has recommended this MRI, I called the insurance company and they will only pay 50% of it. If, and that's a big if, they find something that could be fixed by surgery the insurance has a cap of £2000 per pet per year anyway. Has anyone ever had spinal (and nerve) operations done on their fuzzies? If someone could tell me, yeah we can use the MRI to find exactly where to operate, and the operation will let him walk and toilet perfectly fine and will only take 2 weeks to recover and he will have a great life then I'm all for it. But it's sounding more of an: the MRI will show if anything can be done, if surgery might help then we can try to find someone to do it, and it might help, but there will be a long recovery time.
I want to do what is best for Mako, and I'm scared of losing him or putting him through too much. How much is too much? I guess really I need to find out more about the surgery that 'could' help 'if' he does actually need it. Plus the financial implications of it all. I don't want to rant about my financial situation, as Mako is more important than anything but obviously I have to be realistic.
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Post by FireAngel on May 26, 2015 17:47:13 GMT -5
You mentioned your vet has been talking to local colleges and that it might be possible for them to run tests etc in one of your previous posts, maybe that is an option still? If they use it as a case study then the money should not be as big of a factor and at least you can have the MRI results and be able to make a better educated choice. Poor Mako, I hope you find the answers you guys need soon!
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Post by RedSky on May 27, 2015 4:44:25 GMT -5
The MRI would have to be done elsewhere, and then the surgery would be done somewhere totally different, if we can find a vet willing to do it. I doubt it would be a case study, not sure how many companies/vets/etc want to do them on ferrets. To many people in the UK they aren't worth the money. If they can't be used for rabbiting then they are often 'worthless'.
Thanks for the support, it means a lot that I'm not alone in all of this. I think we are planning on going ahead with the MRI, once we have got the quote we can plan better. I do wonder if too much time has passed though to fix things and if it's going to be pointless, but I will try to do what is best for Mako. He's my little goof ball. We will need to know a lot more about surgery before we can go ahead with it, if I feel it's too much risk and pain for potentially too little reward then I won't do it, if the surgeon is fairly confident and think their will be a vast improvement then I'm all for it.
I've also contacted someone about a wheelchair, it's become such a rarity for him to not be dragging and now he's hardly bothering to move his back legs at all so I'd like to use one as part of his physical therapy.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 7:02:04 GMT -5
Hope all things work out for you and your little one. I know it is difficult for u both.
And I am sorry about the toilet thing. I discovered a few weeks back my spare bedroom closet was a big latrine and it is carpeted.
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Post by RedSky on May 27, 2015 8:07:55 GMT -5
I guess I just need to get into a routine. At the moment I'm cleaning their cage 3 times a day, doing washing daily or every other day depending on where he's gone on the blankets. I've got a wipe clean floor in their cage but Korra has dug through it so I need to replace it with something stronger.
I messaged the Euel (guy who makes the wheelchairs for ferrets) and he wanted some pictures and measurements of Mako so I grabbed him and put him up on my bed as I have trouble bending repeatedly, should have known my luck. Now have a bed covered in poo! Luckily he only got the under sheet and the bedding could do with being changed anyway. I asked Euel if he had known any successful surgeries on ferrets for this sort of problem, he said he didn't. I guess he's the guy to ask since he makes the wheelchairs and will be in contact with lots of owners who are willing to go the extra mile for their ferrets. Korra is booked to have her lump removed tomorrow anyway so I will talk more to the vet again then. I'm going to see if I can take Mako and have her show me again how to express his bladder. Managed a tiny bit this morning but I don't want to hurt or damage him and not sure what I'm feeling.
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Post by FireAngel on May 27, 2015 10:39:24 GMT -5
Awww I was hoping the college thing was a viable option. I'm sorry. I hope you get the answers you need.
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Post by unclejoe on May 27, 2015 14:33:50 GMT -5
Unfortunately, nerves aren't like other structures. Nerves take a long time to repair themselves, if at all, like an inch per month in humans. But if it were possible to relieve pressure from a nerve, it would be a delicate procedure on a ferret and the risk is total paralysis below the lesion. I'd keep working on the wheelchair. At least he'll be able to get around. Is he pooping ok?
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Post by RedSky on May 27, 2015 15:53:48 GMT -5
He does go but I'm not sure if he knows he's going... I've seen him pass stools while eating, playing, walking, being carried and today he went on the bed (I put him up on the bed to take some measurements and pictures). Pretty much everything but not backing up and going on a puppy pad like he used to. I've also noticed him bashing his tail, I think he's trying to wag it and can't. This is usually after his water play (therapy) while he's getting dry. I'm going to discuss the issues raised about surgery with our vet tomorrow. Everything I have read is putting me off, not sure what to think.
Sorry it was probably my poor spelling, I meant colleague, not collage...
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