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Post by mustelidmusk on Dec 21, 2010 16:54:23 GMT -5
You and Dirk are in my thoughts and prayers. Sometimes ferrets can turn things around in even the most unlikely circumstances. I too was thinking Dirk may have spinal tumor/disease. While spinal injuries are not rare in ferrets, true fractures are not particularly common because the ferret spine is designed to be very flexible. If you can get some reishi mushroom supplements, they may help a tiny bit with inflammation.
Sending ferret healing prayers to you and Dirk, -jenifer
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 21, 2010 23:42:44 GMT -5
I'm wondering if inflammation of the break is causing pain, wouldn't prednisone/prednisolone help with that til it heals over? I do know ferrets can live and deal with this issue, as they have with many other people(usually shelters).
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Post by miamiferret2 on Dec 22, 2010 14:09:27 GMT -5
i'm sorry sorry. i had to make that same decision 3 and 1/2 months ago. i had my boy for 8 years and i had to let him go. you do everything you can but i could not be selfish and let him suffer. did you keep him in a cage or free run of the house? is he a furniture climber?
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Post by miamiferret2 on Dec 22, 2010 14:13:56 GMT -5
i agree. sometimes you think that a ferret is doomed but they turn things around. maybe you can get him a brace or something so he is not aggravating it even more? maybe an ace bandage or something? i would think that his moving around and stuff is not allowing it to heal properly. can you make him the slider thing? there is the ferret flyer also.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Dec 22, 2010 14:18:58 GMT -5
i would call susan hayes she is the owner of the arkansas ferret rescue and shelter. they are a hospice for ferrets. i know that sue has a few paralyzed ferrets. sometimes she posts videos of them on Facebook. maybe she can give you some advice. her email is nwa_ferret_rescue@hotmail.com her phone number is 479-313-2979.
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Post by finnigan6 on Dec 25, 2010 22:45:31 GMT -5
Thank you all for the good thoughts! miamiferret2- I will give her a call/email her this week! Dirk had free run of his own room over 2 years ago, but since has been in a large multi level cage with his brother and they were only allowed out supervised..Dirk has always been heavy set since he matured and was never much of a climber..unlike his hyperactive brother Finnigan who loves to climb! I will be making him a little slider this week, he will probably hate it but its for his best interest. Its been a week since I took Dirk in for his xray and Dirk has been doing ok, he has his moments...mostly alot of zoning out and uncontrollable accidents. But he has been fiesty..I monitor his movements and let him get his daily exercise twice a day under my watchful eye. He mostly tries to dig at the closed closet door....he used to love going into my closet but now that he cant control when and where he goes potty, I keep the door closed and he hates it! LOL sherrylynne- I asked the vet about Prednisone but she prescribed him Rimadyl instead...she also said the break in his thoracic bone will not heal, it will over time just break further, and I SHOULD keep him caged up from now on out. I moved him to a one level single cage and away from his brother after the vet visit last saturday...they seem to be ok with it..I put the cages close to one another. I hope everyone had a very merry Xmas& I will keep updating on here & will put up pics as soon as I am able!
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 26, 2010 2:02:14 GMT -5
Please do keep us updated! Personally, I think the very worst thing you could do for him psychologically is keep him permanently caged! He's still a ferret after all. With the same sense of curiosity, etc., that needs to be fulfilled. Yes, he will need to be monitered, cleaned, and so on. But if you can manage to do this, I'm sure he will still have fulfilled life with his momma, and enjoy himself as much as he's able to!
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Post by Heather on Dec 26, 2010 14:20:09 GMT -5
I agree with Sherrylynne. To cage a ferret is a crime. Their insatiable appetite for the new and their unstoppable curiosity should never be caged. Mayhem found himself in similar circumstances. No, he didn't have a broken back but he had suffered a saddle thrombosis leaving him paralyzed. I tried caging him and he nearly broke my heart. He would lie with his nose against the cage bars watching his friends out playing. I couldn't allow him out with the others because they beat him up, but with his own play time he still investigated the whole house. Despite his impairment managed to get himself into trouble. Eventually, his heart condition created such an impairment that I had to let him leave. ciao
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Post by miamiferret2 on Dec 27, 2010 21:57:28 GMT -5
please let us know how he's doing.
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Post by finnigan6 on Dec 27, 2010 22:21:07 GMT -5
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 27, 2010 22:23:22 GMT -5
Awwww- beautiful boys they are I'd ask the vet why the Rimadyl instead of pred, and possibly check into making a slider til he's stabalized, then see how he does without one.
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Post by finnigan6 on Dec 27, 2010 22:25:24 GMT -5
These pics were taken last March when Dirk was in robust shape
He has blue eyes that have a red shine to them ;D
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Post by finnigan6 on Dec 27, 2010 22:34:56 GMT -5
sherrylynne - when the vet said she was going to prescribe meds I right away asked if it was prednisone, and she did tell me why she opted for Rimadyl instead, but I admit, my head was spinning and the tears were flowing while she was talking to me, because it was at that moment she showed me the x-ray...I was in shock.
I will ask her again, I am familiar with prednisone having had my boy Fenris (RIP) on it for his lymphosarcoma.
Dirk hasnt been urinating a whole lot and that worries me..if it doesnt improve overnight I am making an appt 1st thing tomorrow.
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Post by Heather on Dec 27, 2010 22:51:45 GMT -5
A healing candle is lit, we will hope things are still holding well for your little one ciao
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Post by finnigan6 on Jan 17, 2011 16:36:47 GMT -5
UPDATE: Just wanted to pop in here and let you all know that Dirk is still here, he has been getting around just fine..still is unable to use his back legs but he is managing. I tried the slider and he hated it..flipped and flopped like a fish out of water, and I became worried it would interfere with his fracture cracking further, so he just slides along the carpet with no problems. The only issue I have been having is keeping him clean..I have to give him a quick wash down/bath 1-2 times/day due to him going potty in his sleep and laying in it...lets just say he keeps me busy with doing laundry! Thank you all for the kind thoughts and sorry it took so long to give an update!
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