Intervertebral Disk Prolapse in a Ferret

Musculoskeletal and Neurologic Diseases

“…30,31 Clinical signs are similar to those seen in other mammals with intervertebral disk disease and may range in severity from mild proprioceptive deficits to complete paralysis. 30,31 Use guidelines for prognosis in disk disease in companion animals based on the presence or absence of deep pain perception and the duration of the clinical signs. 31 Confirm the diagnosis with myelography; CT and MRI are valuable tests for accurate localization of the lesion and planning of a surgical approach.…”

“…In two reports, ferrets with prolapse or herniation of an intervertebral disk presented with paresis or paralysis, accompanied by proprioceptive deficits caudal to the lesion. 31 Confirm the diagnosis with myelography; CT and MRI are valuable tests for accurate localization of the lesion and planning of a surgical approach. In one case, vertebral subluxation was also present radiographically.…”

“…Intervertebral disk disease has been described rarely in ferrets; 30,31 presumably, their long conformation and extreme flexibility of the body and spine may make them more resistant to herniation than other species. In two reports, ferrets with prolapse or herniation of an intervertebral disk presented with paresis or paralysis, accompanied by proprioceptive deficits caudal to the lesion.…”

Paraplegia in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela Putorius Furo) Secondary to Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma with Myxoid Differentiation

“…1,3,5,6 Other causes of neurologic disease in ferrets include primary spinal cord disease such as intervertebral disc disease, spinal malformations, trauma to the vertebrae or spinal cord, and toxicities. 1,7,8 Adrenocortical disease is a common problem in domestic ferrets and is most commonly seen in middle-aged to older ferrets. 3,9 In contrast to adrenocortical disease in dogs and cats where the adrenal gland overproduces glucocorticoids, ferret adrenal disease is characterized by the overproduction of androgens.…”

Successful medical management of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse in a ferret

“…Disorders reported to cause posterior paralysis with urinary incontinence include vertebral fractures, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), hemivertebrae, hypoglycaemia, hematomyelia associated with prolonged oestrus, neoplasia such as plasma cell myeloma, chondroma and spinal lymphoma, Aleutian disease, myelitis caused by fungal infections, Mycobacterium species and rabies (Williams and others 1993, Antinoff 1997, Fox 1998, Diaz‐Figueroa and Smith 2007). Intervertebral disc prolapse has been previously reported in four ferrets, two were diagnosed using myelogram and treated surgically, both became ambulatory one and two months postoperatively (Lu and others 2004, Morera and others 2006). One ferret had a presumptive diagnosis of disc herniation based on survey radiographs alone and was treated conservatively (Frederick 1981), and the fourth was diagnosed presumptively as suffering from a traumatic disc herniation (Morera and others 2005).…”