From:
Mike Janke
Date: 2001-09-07 18:25:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ECE?
I'm not a vet, but I don't see any point in giving Flagyl to a ferret
with ECE. I believe that the stress it causes is not worth any slim
benefit that may be gained. ECE is a virus, not bacterial, so
antibiotics don't do anything against ECE. They're usually given for
the first week or two of an ECE infection to prevent possible
secondary infections. I believe amoxicillin or Baytril
(enrofloxacin) would be just fine for this.
I would not go so far as to recommend stopping the Flagyl on your own
without consulting with your vet. Talk to your vet and express your
concerns and discuss whether it's really necessary to give Bullwinkle
Flagyl.
It's just a guess, but I'd say if Maggie has been in contact with the
new ferrets and doesn't get ill within 4 or 5 days, she probably
won't. Trying to have an effective quarantine with all the ferrets
in the same house for six months is probably darn near impossible.
I won't even go near the question, "Do MF ferrets get exposed to ECE
as kits or something?" I don't think anyone can prove that they are
or are not.
mike
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Stephanie" <steph@t...> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Well, it's looking like it is ECE as Shasta has now come down with
it. So,
> my question now is, is Flagyl good for this? Since my vet started
Bullwinkle
> on the Flagyl it has been a real struggle to give it to him. He
foams at the
> mouth, bites and cries. Last night I just couldn't bear to force it
on him,
> so he didn't get it. He hates the Amoxy, but doesn't react in such
a severe
> way.
>
> Finally, my 7+ year old Maggie has not shown any signs yet. She has
come in
> contact with the play area and had sniffed through the bars at the
others.
> How long before we would know if she has caught it? We have her
separated in
> the back portion of the house, and so far she and her poops look
great. Do
> MF ferrets get exposed to ECE as kits or something? Maggie is a MF
while
> Bullwinkle and Shasta are not. If she doesn't come down with it,
should we
> keep her separated for 6 months or at this point, since we are all
in the
> same house, figure that she had been exposed while a kit?
>
> Thanks for all the help,
> Stephanie
> with Maggie, Bullwinkle, Shasta, Apollo and Caliccio
> missing with all my heart Icabod and Emeline
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Janke [mailto:mjanke@m...]
>
> I would say that the shelter should know whether they are ECE
free or
> not. Ferrets can be carriers of ECE for six months, perhaps as
long
> as a year. They can look (and be) healthy and still be carrying
the
> virus and the ability to pass it on.
>
> "New ferret + 48 hours + current ferrets get diarrhea" usually
means
> ECE, but it's entirely possible it's just a coincidence and the
> timing is such that it just sounds like an ECE infection.