Why does my ferret's X-ray look broken? Old injury or cancer?

Hello, and thanks for your question about Furgle. If the fracture occurred 2 years ago, then your vet is right that he should do fine without the plate, since a fracture should completely heal within 2-3 months. If he doesn't seem painful, then I wouldn't be too worried. However, if you feel that there's definitely a change happening in the angle of his leg, then it's worth having your vet take another look. You're also welcome to post a picture and we can offer subjective input on the appearance of the photo. But, this doesn't sound likely to be related to his previous fracture. Hope this helps.

It's a little difficult to see in your copy of the x-ray, but it looks like the left femur might be fractured. If the broken bone is above the knee then a cast won't help because it's not possible to stabilize the fracture. If they have recommended pain medication and rest I think that probably is the best option with a broken hip - kittens can heal quickly and it's possible that he will have decent function in the leg. If not, then a surgery called a femoral head osteotomy might be an option once he's big enough for surgery.

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/

I am having a little trouble determine what is going on in the elbows. It looks like they are both fractured if these are pictures of different legs. The pelvis is also fractured. Treatment options would depend on the current condition of the pet and the cause for the injuries. Pelvic fractures often heal with strict cage rest for 1-2 months. The fracture of the elbow appears to have affected the joint, and it likely needs surgery to fix or amputation of the leg. If it is in both legs, surgery to fix the fractures is the best option.

Great question! The only way to tell is by having an x-ray done by your veterinarian - this will show exactly what is wrong with the bone, and will also give the information needed to determine whether it can be fixed or not. I would recommend taking the kitten to your vet for an exam and x-rays as soon as you are able to - he/she will be able to advise you further on what can be done to help the kitten, depending on what the x-rays show.

Thanks for reaching out about Chip. A limp can range from soft tissue trauma (a bruise), ligament damage to a dislocation or fracture. A veterinary visit is recommended for diagnosis, as corrections are more successful early in the process. At the minimal, pain medication might decrease healing time. Good luck.

Without having an xray done it is almost always impossible to determine if it can be repaired surgically or if amputation is needed, i strongly recommend having the leg xrayed before getting to such a conclusion.