From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-04-05 23:44:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ECE
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., HomieChick@a... wrote:
> I bought a baby ferret that came from Marshall Farms about two
months ago.
> When I brought him home his health slowly decreased and I finally
found out
> he had Proliferative Bowel Disease because of ECE. He pooped bright
green for
> awhile and I had to force feed him and give him medicine. Anyway,
now he is
> fine and the other ferrets never had anything worse than a few
green poopies.
> My question is, sometimes the others poop green but still seem
fine. Should I
> be worried about the others suddenly getting very ill, and should I
be
> worried about the little guy that was severly ill before getting
sick again??
> Also, is it true that I can give ECE to other ferrets by just
coming in
> contact with them and if this is true, how long do I have to wait
before I
> can hold and play with other peoples ferrets? Thank you very much
for
> everyones help.
Dear Molly: You can find out most of the information you need to
know about ECE by searching the archives of the FHL or at my Web site
at http://www.afip.org/ferrets
In short, it does sound like a mild outbreak of ECE in your house.
ECE is transmitted by inapparent carriers for at least 6 moths and
maybe more. You can transmit it on your hands and clothing - feret
to ferret contact is not needed.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
Join the Ferret Health List at
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