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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2015 23:23:52 GMT -5
Lou, my 3 1/2 year old ferret, seems to have gone blind in the past 2 months. I have a video on my phone of him three months ago playing like a normal ferret and then about two months ago I noticed that he was acting very strangely. He was stumbling around a lot and was running into things a lot more than normal (we regularly moved around their toys) and he was not playing with my other ferret, Baltimore, at all (very very unusual). He was also startling a lot more when I would pick him up, although that has always been a bit of a problem because he is deaf.
I watched him for a few weeks and realized that he seemed to be blind. I took him to the vet a month ago and he agreed that Lou is most likely blind, but all of his other observations and Lou's blood test said that he is otherwise very healthy. He is still having trouble getting around their room and is even having difficulty getting around his cage.
Since I noticed he was acting strangely I've also noticed that he can not walk in a straight line, not even for a few steps when he knows there's nothing in front of him. His back legs seem to give out from under him, or he steps too far to the side and stumbles over. At first I assumed that it was because he went blind so suddenly but it hasn't stopped and now I think it might be something else.
Also in the last few days he has started letting his lower jaw hang while he's awake. It doesn't matter what he's doing (sitting, walking, etc.) his mouth is open slightly. He doesn't wheeze, but he seems to be having a bit of trouble eating his raw meals. I gave him a toy, about a 1/2 pound, that he can carry and he picked it up to stash it but just let it hook behind his lower canines and hang instead of clenching it in his mouth. When I scruffed him to check out his teeth I saw some plaque buildup (very slight, but new) on his bottom canines and that the teeth between his bottom canines almost seemed to be missing. I couldn't hold him long enough to get a good look (he gets very stressed), so I don't know for sure. I also noticed that he was dehydrated, which also appeared in the last few days.
I have another vet appointment for him tomorrow morning and might also be going to a ferret specialist in the cities if my local vet thinks there might be more to find out.
Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms? Any ideas on what it might be? I've researched everything but all of his symptoms don't seem to amount to anything specific.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 2:02:58 GMT -5
I am terribly sorry about your little one. I do hope you find some answers.
The only experience I had with blindness was with my little sissy who went blind about at 5. When vet performed surgery, she found pancreatic cancer(insulinoma).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 3:50:00 GMT -5
That sounds sad and serious! No experience with that really in ferrets, I'm sure others will have better advice, but for the sake of maybe finding answers, I can elaborate on similar symptoms with my cat:
He had started going blind do to cataracts in both eyes. Same thing, not getting around easily, bumping into walls. Eventually did not play with the other cats anymore. Walked funny and we had to keep bringing food to him because it seemed like the obstacle of getting there was just too much. He also hangs his mouth open now a lot, especially when he's walking and sniffing around. I'm assuming just to heighten his sense of smell for navigation?
Anyway, hope that helps in some way! Good luck, I'm sure others here or the vet will help you with a solid diagnosis!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 9:15:40 GMT -5
Poor baby. I hope the vet finds some answers. It sounds like a combination of things especially Insulinoma. Lou is a bit young for that but unless you are very sure of his age, he might be a bit older than you know. I wonder if a tumor is pressing down somewhere that is causing his blindness. If it's Insulinoma then that can be managed for quite a long time. It's all about keeping his blood glucose steady and Prednisolone and even Diazoxide as an aid will help with that. Was his blood work a fasting blood work test? Please let us know what the vet says. Take a journal and write it all down. We get emotional and then it's hard to remember everything the vet says. Hugs to Lou and I'm tagging Sherry and Heather for some senior medical advice.  |
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Post by Sherry on Nov 5, 2015 10:53:34 GMT -5
TBH that almost sound neurological.I would have an xray done of the head/spine to see if anything is happening there. And he needs a ferret specific vet for something like this.
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Post by Heather on Nov 5, 2015 12:07:34 GMT -5
I agree with Sherry...get an xray of skull and spine. I had a wee girlie who exhibited similar symptoms and unfortunately, it was a tumour at the base of her skull, where the skull and neck meet. There was nothing I could do for her. Now, she had not lost her sight but it did cause seizures. We did try using pred but unfortunately, were unsuccessful at halting the growth. Definitely, xrays
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 13:10:53 GMT -5
TBH that almost sound neurological.I would have an xray done of the head/spine to see if anything is happening there. And he needs a ferret specific vet for something this. You're completely right- I am looking into some ferret/exotic animal vets a few hours away that my local vet referred me to. Lou's blood test came back completely normal again, and his blood sugar level was 140 which the vet said is very healthy and which rules out insulinoma. Lou did loose two tenths of a pound since his last visit two weeks ago, but he is also in the middle of changing his coat and the vet said he wasn't too concerned about that. He checked for cataracts and did not see any, which suggests something as simple as retinal atrophy (which we agreed on last time as well). His teeth were all there (I was just a paranoid momma about that), but the vet did say he wasn't sure why his mouth was open and why he was stumbling around so much. He mentioned briefly that it could be muscular atrophy, but said he thought it was more likely to be a neurological problem. He referred me to a few vets within a few hours of my home and asked me to keep him updated with the visits so he could better help future ferrets. Ultimately, Lou's symptoms are something my vet admitted he has never seen before in a ferret and he really has no idea what is wrong, if anything. We talked for a bit about the fact that his symptoms may just be caused by the blindness. Opening his mouth to smell/breath better, stumbling around simply because he can not see, that sort of thing. I am making an appointment with a ferret vet as soon as possible (I am a full time employee and a full time student which makes scheduling a bit difficult), but my vet said it is possible that there is nothing wrong with him at all other than being blind. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that is the whole problem, and not anything more serious like a tumor. Thank you all so much for your ideas! I will keep you posted with this unique problem...anything I can find out now can help a future ferret later on! |
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Post by Sherry on Nov 6, 2015 11:19:05 GMT -5
Here is hoping that is all it is. If so, scent markers may help a LOT. Use extracts, and not essential oils. For example all his bedding when washed goes through a rinse cycle with vanilla extract. Potty box of course has it's own. Dangerous areas like stairs would get a citrus extract, etc. It will have to be redone on a regular basis, every few days or a week. But it would help him map the place better.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2015 11:34:42 GMT -5
That's a fantastic idea!! I currently live in an apartment with a cat that likes to hunt ferrets(...), so they are unfortunately stuck in their cage until I am able to let them out in one bedroom while supervised. It's a small bedroom, but it has a ton of toys and objects for the ferrets to use. If I use vanilla for their cage and bedding, how many other oils do you recommend using for their room? could I do one for each specific toy, or could I lump similar toys together with the same scent? For example, I have two ferret condos, like cat condos, and they are placed close together but aren't touching. If I use the same scent for both of them will that confuse Lou?
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Post by Heather on Nov 6, 2015 15:33:02 GMT -5
Remember ...these aren't oils, these are essences. They will be found in the baking section of your store. Avoid EO's at all costs. Use the various "flavours" you will find in the baking section...vanilla is one that is liked. Avoid citrus flavours unless you want them to avoid that area. Banana is well received as is rum..go figure  Orange and lemon are avoided. Mints, spearmint was enjoyed while peppermint was not. It's very trial and error but as I said, do not use the "oils" only the flavours ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2015 17:56:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the recommended essences! Is there a reason essential oils shouldn't be used?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2015 18:09:06 GMT -5
I read somewhere it causes liver toxicity
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2015 20:03:17 GMT -5
Definitely want to avoid that...thanks!
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Post by Sherry on Nov 7, 2015 12:15:02 GMT -5
They can't excrete the toxins, which then build up over time. Unfortunately they are deemed as "safe" since they are only tested for 6 months.
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Post by unclejoe on Nov 7, 2015 21:03:09 GMT -5
possible stroke? we believe Prissy had one and she is now almost blind.
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