Why is my ferret tilting head, falling, and shaking after adrenal treatment?

I agree it is difficult to pinpoint what is the problem with Fera. I wonder if she had any episodes of vomiting or weight loss, or has she been sneezing at all ? Any changes in her appetite ? Has she had any blood tests done ? If you can I would recommend to chose to go for further investigations, as the symptoms are quite vague but at the same time we don’t want Fera to become too poorly ! In order to answer your question, a consultation with one of our exotics vet might be your second option, providing as many details as possible would help formulating a differential list of conditions.

I would recommend checking a urine sample to make sure there is not an infection present. It is possible the adrenal disease has caused him to drink and pee more so now that he is peeing less it seems abnormal. however anytime you have adrenal disease it is important to watch for UTIs. hope that helps

I am sorry to hear about Penny. She may have injured her back while climbing in/out of the litter box. Intervertebral disc disease is something that older ferrets can get. Sometimes, they can slip a disc in their spine and it can cause severe pain and discomfort. She may have slipped a disc when exiting the litter box. Ferrets can get arthritis in their spine as well. At her age, it is likely she does have some arthritis but because of the sudden onset of symptoms you described when she come out of the litter box, it makes me think she may have intervertebral disc disease. Anti-inflammatory medication can help keep her comfortable. You should talk to your vet for some or try going to see another veterinarian if your vet doesn't want to help Penny. Ferret's can also get adrenal disease that can cause a variety of symptoms. I will attach a link about adrenal disease in ferrets so that you can see if Penny has any of the symptoms. Hope this has helped. Thank you for using pet coach. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=1983

This can be very serious. I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam. This is not likely an injured leg (although possible). This sounds more like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) from an insulin tumor (insulinoma) or an adrenal tumor however, there are some other possibilities too. You can't know what to do for him until you find out why he has these symptoms. He needs a vet exam. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951368 I don't know if these clinics will treat ferrets but you can call them and find out: https://www.ashevillehumane.org/resources/vet-care-assistance https://opendoorveterinarycare.com/services/

A ferret that tires out quickly is concerning of an insulinoma, which is a common type of tumor that ferrets get that can cause low blood sugar. This can be easily diagnosed by a veterinarian and there are some treatment options. You can also test this at home by giving her a little karo syrup, or honey and seeing if that increases her energy. If it does, then it's likely to be an insulinoma and you should take her to the vet as soon as possible. Another possible cause is an obstruction in the intestine. Ferrets are well known to eat things that they shouldn't, which can get stuck in the intestines and cause them to feel very down like this. This is also something that needs veterinary treatment, so it's best to take Panda to a vet that treats ferrets within the next 24 hours. I hope that helps and Panda gets better soon.

If pebbles truly does have adrenal disease their are two options. The first is surgical removal of the adrenal gland. This surgery is successful and can be done by a general practioner too. The second is an implant that is placed between the shoulder blades like a microchip. This implant can last for years and has very few side effects. Typically we do not run lots of testing for adrenal disease in ferrets we just diagnosis it off the clinical signs. It might be you need to find a new vet who is more comfortable with the treatment of adrenal disease in ferrets.

I'm sorry that Oscar and his companion are not feeling well! Weakness in ferrets can be caused by low blood sugar, which can be a result of an insulinoma, a very common pancreatic tumor in ferrets which secretes insulin and causes low blood sugar. This requires a veterinary exam, bloodwork, and other diagnostics to diagnose. In the meantime, I recommend offering both ferrets a high protein/high fat small meal every several hours to keep their blood sugar levels normal. This can be their normal diet or canned cat food. I hope all is well!