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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2012 12:39:28 GMT -5
So the fuzz were out for there morning play session. They were playing in the tubes, running around, etc.
Hal (5 1/2 year old male) runs around the room, comes around a corner, and BAM all of the sudden I notice he can't use his right hind leg. He's limping around, still trying to play, putting nearly all of his weight on the left hind leg.
I pick him up. Move the leg, touch it: No pain. I pinch his toes, yes he feels that... He seems 100% fine, he still wants to play...
What on earth could cause his leg to go from fine to limp in the blink of an eye? I'm wondering if it got dislocated?
Obviously we'll be taking him to the vet in the next day, but I'm hoping to get an idea what could cause something so suddenly bizarre like this!
Update: When he walks you can tell he is favoring one leg. Kind of a weird hopping thing.... I'm not sure if his right hind leg cannot actually be used, or if he is choosing not to use it because of the pain.
I read on a vet website that when a ferret chooses to favor another leg that IS a sign of pain, because pressure on the leg is hurting him.
I'm guessing he hurt it while playing?
*UPDATE- NEW POST ON BOTTOM*
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Post by Sherry on Jul 30, 2012 13:14:41 GMT -5
Could he have sprained it, or even banged it and hit a nerve? I'd watch it fir about 24 hrs since it doesn't appear ti be located in the hip(pain) and see if it improves, in which case it's likely one of the above.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2012 13:34:16 GMT -5
Could he have sprained it, or even banged it and hit a nerve? I'd watch it fir about 24 hrs since it doesn't appear ti be located in the hip(pain) and see if it improves, in which case it's likely one of the above. Yeah I will do that. It is certainly possible, he does play this game where they run through the tunnels and the carpet. Our kit Shelby is a little much for him.... It's possible he twisted it in the tunnel, or sprained it while wrestling with her. Well, I'll give it 24 hours at least- probably more like 48 hours since sprains can take a while. If it gets worse I'll take him in. I'm also wondering if he hurt his back... He's had back pain since we adopted him- probably a pre-existing injury from playing with his old owners German Sheppards. All it would have taken were him to turn too tightly in the tunnel to cause spine damage- and then there could have gone one of his feet. |
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Post by Sherry on Jul 30, 2012 14:54:15 GMT -5
Do you have access to an animal chiro who treats ferrets? That may help the old injury.
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Post by Heather on Jul 30, 2012 15:06:34 GMT -5
Odin did this just the other day. He was fine, playing dooking. I was laughing at him because he was busy just kicking and thrashing around in a ferret tent (actually under it)....just giving it. The next thing I know he's hobbling.... badly on the back right leg. Checked, nothing broken, full feeling but really gimping it. Figure he sprained or pulled something in his enthusiasm. Told him he was just too old to behaving like a kit (he's 10  ) He's still favouring a bit but he's getting around very well, so the injury is healing at about the rate of a sprain or muscle pull. So, this is possible. If you don't see improvement or it's getting worse in about 24 hrs (that's how long it took before he was putting weight on the leg) then take him to the vet to make sure he didn't break or dislocate anything. ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2012 17:44:16 GMT -5
Should I keep him in his cage for the next 24 hours so his use of it is limited?
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Post by Sherry on Jul 30, 2012 18:03:38 GMT -5
I'd not. The pain of it(if it's a sprain) should keep him from overdoing it. If he has enforced cage rest it will take longer to heal.
You'll also notice sooner if it's getting worse with movement.
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Post by Heather on Jul 30, 2012 18:33:15 GMT -5
I didn't restrict Odin. He was more reserved than usual but used it allowing it not to tighten up. He also didn't have to use the ramps in his cage which might have caused further injury but got to walk on a flat floor.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2012 18:43:04 GMT -5
I didn't restrict Odin. He was more reserved than usual but used it allowing it not to tighten up. He also didn't have to use the ramps in his cage which might have caused further injury but got to walk on a flat floor. ciao Yeah he's having trouble, he doesn't want to use the right leg at all and his coordination isn't too good so he's hobbling as best he can to the nearest rest areas in our apartment... |
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Post by Heather on Jul 30, 2012 18:45:39 GMT -5
If he's not using it at all, then he may have dislocated the joint. You will need to get that seen to by a vet
ciao
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Post by Sherry on Jul 30, 2012 19:03:27 GMT -5
Oh, poor bud! I agree- if he's putting no weight on it, he needs to see the vet.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2012 19:21:46 GMT -5
Alright, I did a little test. I gave him a bath. Now he's a dummy and doesn't use his back legs when he swims anyway, but I was able to see how they were in water.
Basically, when I put my hands up against them he was able to put resistance against my hand with BOTH legs. So there is no dislocation.
As he's drying off he's still hobbling around, he can't really walk well with one strong back leg... But it appears to be a bad sprain... Worst case scenario: there is a fracture/break.
Called vet and they said give him a few days.
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Post by Sherry on Jul 30, 2012 19:35:04 GMT -5
If there's a break, you should notice swelling increasing fairly rapidly around the area of the break.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2012 19:38:27 GMT -5
If there's a break, you should notice swelling increasing fairly rapidly around the area of the break. Gotcha. Well, if this is a sprain, he is obviously the biggest woosey in the world  |
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Post by acodlin on Jul 30, 2012 20:07:50 GMT -5
Monster hurt his front leg one time and he wouldnt walk on it, then he limped on it for over a week. I happened to have some ketaprofen and I gave him a dose of that and he was fine. Maybe ask for some kind of anti inflammatory drug for him if you go to the vets.
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