From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2001-12-01 10:54:00 UTC
Subject: Giggles' Again (still)
I can't speculate on the one's with the "mystery disease",
a necropsy might have shown something, but other than
that it is hard to guess,
IBD is Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and the symptoms
to make it as basic as I can,
would mostly have to do with diarrhea, can be episodic, or
chronic,
and the diagnosis is made by biopsy of the intestines.
This diagnosis is a bit controversial in ferrets and as far
as I know there is one study published that supports it,
but it has it's limitations. To review this study go the
the FHL main page on the yahoo web site, and click
on files - from there look for IBD article page 1 and page 2.
Like I said, it can't be properly diagnosed without a biopsy,
and it may be other things that cause it like post ECE,
food allergies, etc.
I believe that it is relatively uncommon, and you shouldn't
worry
about it. However, for those whose ferrets fit the picture
that is explained in the article, and where no other diagnosis
seemed to fit, it is good thing to know about and discuss with
their
vet.
Patty
Ok,,I dont mean to sound stupid here but what is IBD and
what does it do to fuzzbutts?
Jade and Rocky......