Message Number: YG1375 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-17 09:22:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Pet Store Ferrets

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Mike Janke" <mjanke@m...> wrote:
> Yes, pet store ferrets do seem to account for a lot of cases of ECE
> being brought into established ferret households. A ferret that
has
> had ECE can transmit it to other ferrets for at least six months,
> possibly longer.
>
> Mike
>
>
> --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Margie" <chanelferret@y...> wrote:
> > Someone said pet store ferrets are ECE carriers. How long after
> the
> > purchase of a pet store ferret, does the ferret shed? or when can
> > another ferret be gotten.
> >
> > Chanel


Anecdotally, six to eight months appears to be the conventional
wisdom on the shedding period of this disease - coronaviruses are
like that - they can be transmitted for a long period of time.

It is difficult to answer the second question. Conceivably if the
ferret is obtained from the same pet store, and the same supplier as
the first, and there are no other ferrets involved, another
introduction is feasible. Generally if both ferrets are young, and
both came through the same stops at the pet store, if one had it, the
second would. Plus we are dealing with young animals. However, if
you have older ferrets in the house, another new ferret should be
introduced with much more caution.


With kindest regards,

Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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