Zero (the ferret)

tink80

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
1,264
Purraise
3
Location
WA, U.S.A
My precious, neurological boy








He's much improved since October when he came home with us, he actually is slowly gaining more control with his walking, I'm so proud!
 

ruthyb

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
5,314
Purraise
16
Location
Derbyshire UK.
Oh my goodness, that is just the cutest picture ever, I love ferrets and I am glad that he is improving.xx
 

mrblanche

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
12,578
Purraise
119
Location
Texas
What is his neurological problem? CH?

By the way, ferrets don't appear a lot in the media, but there IS one in which they are prominent. And very wealthy.

Housepets
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

tink80

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
1,264
Purraise
3
Location
WA, U.S.A
Well, Zero was dumped at the humane society like this. My vet was called as he was chipped with her and she remembered after reading his chart that he came in initially with previous owner severely malnourished by ulcers..he could not lift his head and was so thin and it was so bad by then she reccomended euthanasia as he was clearly suffering. Previous owner refused euthanasia so they began aggressive treatment which she did not believe he would survive.
He did survive and by the time he was strong enough to lift his head and properly evaluate him, he was neurological. It is unknown if he was already like this before or after treatment.
The shelter deemed him unadoptable and was going to euthanize but my vet stepped up and said she would handle his rehoming, even if she had to foster him for awhile. He is normal in every respect except he has a neurological manifestations/gait which can cause other issues (he does not play like a "normal" ferret as he is just not coordinated enough and sometimes he would fall over in his own mess while going potty).
He has put on a bunch of weight and has had proper out of cage time here so I'm torn between thinking malnourishment or his muscles dwindled away stuck in a cage or maybe a little of both.
He could not climb a ramp when he first arrived and now he manages them no problem. Of course he tumbles sometimes but his cage is nice and cushioned for that

I have seen huge improvements going potty, his hind end seemed to have a mind of its own from his front end and now he seems to have enough muscle in his back legs to crouch lower to the ground and get enough balance to fall over less while pottying (which means less baths and easier baby wipe cleanup!
)
He has an odd shape to his head which makes me wonder if this was birth or an injury though. It's kind of indented a bit which I've noticed with my Waardenburgs Syndrome kids but he is not deaf so I don't think it's anything like that.
He certainly does have odd ways with his feet, he will not notice if they are curled on themselves or he crosses his legs to hold his balance sometimes. He also does a lot of head bobbing but he's managed to learn how to hold still enough to kiss me on the lips
 

my4llma

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Messages
9,556
Purraise
247
He's so cute! He looks so comfortable sleeping there
 

pushylady

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Messages
16,398
Purraise
451
Location
Canada
Poor boy. He was lucky to have some kind humans in his life to save him.
Ferrets are so cute and such characters!
 
Top