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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/13/2006 9:57:37 AM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 2
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As you can see in my signature, DeeDee is ok but she can not use her hind legs I am thinking on a little wheelchair that will allow her to move around when she is not on the cage I am also modifying her setup to a smaller and lower litter box because she is only using the lowest level of her cage Have any of you had a ferret in a wheelchair? Does it work? Any recommendations? Thank you!
6.5 year old female DeeDee diagnosed with Insulinoma
Surgery performed, it is cancer.
Her back legs are paralysed
Good appetite and mood. She is a tropper!
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Average Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/12/2007 3:46:12 PM
Posts: 644,
Visits: 1,756
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I just so happen to have the ferrets mag with the 2006 gift list in it, and one of the gifts is a ferret wheel chair. its called the Ferret Flyer. theyre custom made wheel chairs for ferrets with leg problems.
to learn more about them you can get ahold of Robert and Donna Morgavan in texas at either (830)693-7112 or by email- morgavan@281.com
they'll help you deside what you'll need and how to get one made for you. Ive seen a few stories about ferrets with wheel chairs and how they've given the ferret their freedom back to run around and play.
-------------------------- Mommy of 5 lovley ferrets- Kiba, Sable, Amon, Aphrodite and Titus Over the Bridge- Podo, dec.06 
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/28/2007 12:37:44 PM
Posts: 30,
Visits: 10
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i ave never had this prob but i have heard good things about the wheelchairs for ferrets. how ever if you call the place and dont like the price there are two alernaives. if you are crafty(or know some one who is) you can use toy care wheels, a flat peace of board(padded) and an old ferret harness to make your own. the other is not as good but also works. if you can find the roller skates they make for children to turn everyday shoes into skates one of them can easly be adjusted into a wheelchair(not as mobil as the first option but still better than dragging your belly[ ] ) hope your fuzzy is doing wheelies around you soon.
wonder weby's mom
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/16/2007 11:53:15 AM
Posts: 66,
Visits: 47
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>As you can see in my signature, DeeDee is ok but she can not use her hind >legs am thinking on a little wheelchair that will allow her to move around Insulinoma can cause hind end weakness, but it does not cause them to not use their legs at all. Has she had an xray to check for a spinal injury? Is she ADV tested? If not, I would do those things to rule out the true problem. >Have any of you had a ferret in a wheelchair? Does it work? Ferrets can do well with them, but let's make sure first that she needs it. How much pred is she on? Do you give it twice a day? Pred only lasts 12 hours in the body, so giving it twice a day is very important. Her dose may just not be high enough. Keep us posted & good luck!
Mary
www.ferretrescue.com
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/14/2007 6:57:59 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 5
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| I posted something about ferret wheelchairs and I don't know where it went. Did it go you your e-mail? ANyway I built a ferret wheelchair out of foamboard and model airplane wheels and it worked wonderfully for my little Zsa Zsa. May God now be taking good care of my teensy weensy girl. Anyway if it is due to paralysis don't get a wheelchair from any web site.I bought one for $300 and it was too big and clunky and she was actually afraid of it You can e-mail me at mindsplattergraphics@comcast.net if you need more info if the weak hind legs is due to insulinoma then try some DIazoxide from your vet and Brewers Yeast in his/her food from the health food store. It's worked for Rascal for 2 years and counting. Try to stay away from prednizone if all possible. It's very hard on the body. Diazoxide will just correct the problem and it is not a steroid.
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/27/2008 10:28:17 PM
Posts: 9,
Visits: 19
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I highly recommend the Ferret Wheel Chair!!!!!
I have that ferret wheelchair. I bought it for a ferret I have that actually has a spinal injury and at first she just loved the thing, she flew through the house like a little speed demon chasing the other ferrets. Until she one day she went over sideways, and because of her injury she couldn't right herself. No use of her hips at all, or back legs, I had to lay her out on the chair. The chair itself is designed for one who has minimal use of their back legs, but can still move them somewhat. Not all the work up front.
Because of her type of injury, it was pushing on the spinal and hip that are injured, she really couldn't use her front legs without putting all the pressure on her front forward and support herself with the chair anymore. She prefers her front body pulling her whole weight. She looks funny, but she is happy and boy she can kick some butt with her front. You can't even scruff her because she is all muscle.
I think that your baby will love the chair and it will help your baby taking the stress off her trying to get herself around. She is weak and getting around is probably exhausting, unlike my little girl, who looks like a brute.
The people who make it are a very loving couple and they take careful care in doing so. You just take a tape measure and lay your little one out on the floor on her back. Go from neck to her base of her tail. I think they want a photo, but go make sure you know her inches. You use an h-collar and they give go a velcro section that attaches to the ring in the back of the collar to the "Flyer" and then you strap your little one in and watch her take off. It works on carpet great.
But don't forget exercise and physical therapy for your little baby. Putting her legs in water so she can try to kick. Just her back legs, not her whole body. I make it just a little cooler, so she really doesn't want to have her legs in there. It makes her move them all that more. Putting her on a basket ball, soccer ball or such, even an adult exercise ball and gently rolling her back and forth, to strengthen her muscles, they tense up to make sure they don't fall, you are holding them, but it is a reaction and it strengthens them. There are a few others. I think I saw them in a older Ferrets Magazine. I try to do this to help my little lady continue to use what little she has in her back feet . She can't lift her hips, but she can scoot with her feet when she needs to.
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