Something wrong with my Abbey

[Deleted]

This morning my little senior was walkng really strange. She has had no accidents that i know of. Is this a stroke? My vet is at a conference and will not be in until Monday. Sorry first video with photobucket. may have to play it again to catch it better. 
 

[Deleted]

So sorry she isn't well... I wouldn't exclude a stroke honestly. But has she been eating fine? Pooping,drinking? Is it possible to be low BG? Do you have a way to measure it at home?

[Deleted]

My daughter has an alpha track 2. Where do you draw blood on a ferret to check blood sugar?

[Deleted]

I'm sorry to hear that Abbey isn't doing too well, I've never had a ferret with insulinoma or one that's had a stroke so I don't know if it's a stroke or not but I wouldn't rule it out, has she hurt her foot at all?

[maja01]

Feb 13, 2016 17:38:23 GMT -5 abbeytheferret6 said:

My daughter has an alpha track 2. Where do you draw blood on a ferret to check blood sugar?

O do it from front paw pad, but you can do it from the tip of the tail also.

[maja01]

[msav]

are her nails kept trim. I have seen ferrets twist their entire leg up after getting a nail caught in a hammock after jumping out. I have heard of ferrets hanging like that for hours.

Other thing is she could have fallen in the cage. and landed on her back foot awkwardly.

Looks like she is favoring only one of her back feet. I don't know for sure but the hind leg weakness normally affects both hing legs.

any vet should be able to do an x-ray. it does not require much ferret knowledge.

[Deleted]

I usually trim a bit of hair from the tail and try there. If not enough blood comes out, then paw pad it is (that is a bit more painful though, or so mine said).

If you gently touch her on the hind legs/hips, does she react like being in pain? Of course an xray would rule that out or confirm

[bitbyter]

There is no point in taking blood for a BG check without a baseline from your vet. You'll have nothing to compare it to.

[unclejoe]

Doesn't look like weakness as much as a limp to me.

[msav]

Alpha track BG meters, If I remember correctly has a adjustment/setting for ferrets.

Some Vets use it, It is designed for vet use. But I agree having the test done with the bloodwork is a better way to read BG accuratly

I have an alpha Track 2 meter and it has matched exactly with the labwork results. + or - 3. we have checked with with 3 different ferrets and 3 different vets.

They do give calibration liquid, however I have never had to calibrate it.



www.atozvetsupply.com/AlphaTRAK-2-Meter-Kit-p/840-040365.htm

[Deleted]

I'm sorry about Abbey and I hope that it turns out to be nothing serious. Sending good wishes your way.

[Deleted]

Thanks everybody for all the info and responses.

I did take her to an emergency vet tonight. Happened to be an exotic on call. He tends to believe it is soft tissue damage. He did not check her bg after I told him that her last blood sugar was 89 done by my vet (2 hour fast). Abbey was checking out the room, walking around a lot even though limping. He said she would be more lethargic. He asked if she was pawing at mouth and hypersalivating, which was all a negative.

I asked about stroke and he said that I would need a MRI or CAT scan to determine that.

So she is on Meloxicam to be taken with food.
She has been fighting with new girl a little. But that is all that i have seen different.

Thanks for the you tube. I will let my daughter test her BG as she is no longer squeamish, having to test her dog's blood. She did say her Alpha trak could be used for ferrets.

I will do a follow-up when my vet comes back next week. I might go ahead and have an X-ray done.

[maja01]

I was only able to see the clip today. It really does not look like low bg issues. I would also be more inclined toward injury.

Good luck, I hpe soon she will be better.

[lyles]

I agree with the vet, looking at the video it looks like an injury as you can see her placing weight on one side.