Electrodiagnostic examination of the tibial nerve in clinically normal ferrets

Tibial nerves of 10 normal domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) were evaluated by means of electrodiagnostic tests: motor nerve conduction studies (MNCSs), supramaximal repetitive nerve stimulation (SRNS), F waves, and cord dorsum potentials (CDPs). Values of conduction velocity, proximal and distal compound muscular action potentials, and amplitudes of MNCS were, respectively, 63.25 +/- 7.56 m/sec, 10.79 +/- 2.75 mV, and 13.02 +/- 3.41 mV. Mean decrements in amplitude and area of compound muscular action potentials of wave 9 with low frequency SRNS were 0.3 +/- 3.83% and 0.1 +/- 3.51%. The minimum latency of the F waves and the F ratio were, respectively, 8.49 +/- 0.65 ms and 1.92 +/- 0.17. Onset latency of CDP was 1.99 +/- 0.03 ms. These tests may help in diagnosing neuromuscular disorders and in better characterizing the hindlimb paresis reported in many ferrets with systemic illnesses.