Injured ferret

[potfiller 3]

One of my gills (16 weeks old) has injured her back leg, I'm guessing a dislocated hip. when I pick her up one leg just hangs limp and when she walks she drags it out stretched, when running it lifts a bit. I'm about to call the vet, just wondered if anyone has had a similar problem and what was the outcome? Any thoughts as to how much this will cost?

 

Thanks

[potfiller 3]

Just to add, she doesn't seem in pain.

[The one 8,474]

depends on your vet mine takes £25 for the consultation

[diggermad 154]

where you from mate

[bribri988 141]

phone the vet and ask to speak to the nurse and explain to her and she will tell you straight ATB

[potfiller 3]

Thought I would give an update about the ferret. Spoke to the duty nurse who explained the potential issues and options (thanks bribri988, good call).

Took her for a consultation this morning, they wanted to knock her out and x-ray - approx £65 and another £25 consultation fee. I asked if they could

diagnose without an x-ray, which they did and said she has a broken knee. They prescribed a week of Meloxicam @ 0.3ml per day and to rest her for two weeks.

Hopefully she will make a full recovery and it only cost £32.

 

ATB

[potfiller 3]

Another update. The ferret is recovering nicely. Shes regaining movement in her leg and it seems to have set in the right place and looks the same as her other one - it was hanging to the side before. Looks like she may be good for work yet. The instructions for the Meloxicam said cats should only receive it for 4 days max as they could die, so I stopped using it on the ferret after 3 days just to be safe. As it is a painkiller and anti-inflammatory I didn't think it would slow her recovery by stopping use early.

 

atb

Edited September 21, 2012 by potfiller

[Rake aboot 4,935]

Good new mate

 

And a good call as well. Funny how they can diagnose a broken knee without an xray, at half the price,, but only when you ask them to.

[potfiller 3]

Isn't it. The vet I saw was quite young and it took out back for another vet to examine. Two minutes later they conclusively diagnosed a broken knee. You could feel the joint on the bad leg was twice the size of the other. She still managed to sell me some Meloxicam though, which I'm not convinced was needed as I would've thought the pain would stop her from being too active and the swelling would protect it while it healed. In light of this I would suggest people speak to the nurse before booking an appointment and explore all options with the vet before agreeing to expensive procedures.

 

Earlier this year my lurcher pup, then 10 months old, impaled herself on a stick. It went about three inches into the back of her throat towards the back of her neck and just stopped short of going all the way through. The stick its self was about half a meter long so I carefully removed it in the field. The end was nice and smooth so I wasn't too worried about splinters being left in the wound. The vet insisted on knocking her out and putting a camera down and an x-ray. As the wound had already closed up, and you could see it by just looking in her mouth, I thought this all seemed unnecessary and over the top, but not wanting to put my pup at risk, I let them do it. When I picked her up later that day The vet said everything was okay and charged me £135, then asked if I had insurance, I asked why, she said if I did then they could open her up from the outside and have another check for any splinters. I asked If this was really necessary, she said no! I was shocked that they would be happy to perform unnecessary surgery just because they could charge the insurance company. I still use the same vet as they are still better than others I've tried.

So, lesson learned, always have a long chat and don't be bullied into expensive treatment, they will try to pull on those heart strings until your wallet falls out.

 

atb

Edited September 21, 2012 by potfiller

[sam4530s 37]

yeah thay dont care do they , hartless bast**ds , just in it for the money . i think they dont care about the animals somtimes i think there just interested in the insurence money

[max abell 196]

Unfortunatly mate sometimes a vet is the only option they are robbing bas*ards i hope it's something simple and the jill makes a full recovery

[ferret100 47]

If your knee was twice the size of the other and two doctors took a look and suspected you'd fractured it, would you turn down an x-ray and not take painkillers?

[potfiller 3]

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