From:
kellechu
Date: 2002-02-01 11:38:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 584
>Is it possible they really got ECE from the baby?
Was >the giardia
>diagnoses confirmed by examination? I've never had
to >deal with this
>disease, but I believe a fecal exam would reveal
>giardia.
Another post:
>I have heard in the past that
>sometimes vets think what they saw in the fecal exam
>was Giardia but it
>really was yeast, since yeast and Giardia look very
>much a like and its
>very
>hard to tell the difference.
They each went to the vet, the baby first, then my
older boys. I brought in a stool sample from all, and
the vet even took a stool sample from them in the
office (it involved putting a thermometer cover in
their bum). Each was positive for Giardia, which I
learned from the vet is very, very common in Colorado.
I believe because of this, they have great experience
in dealing with Giardia.
I have had a baby with ECE and his poop looked nothing
like the poop from Giardia. The ECE poop was
yellow/green and birseed-looking. The Giardia poop is
clear mucousy, and looks oily. I'm no expert at poop,
or diseases, so I might be wrong. :)
>I would love to hear from one of the vets on this.
>Flagyl is
>supposed to clear this parasite out, so I wonder how
>they would
>always have it after proper treatment.
I would too actually. I have done some research on
the web and I believe the issue is highly debated with
doctors. I will just relay what my vet said about the
Flagyl: She said it only cuts down the numbers of
cysts produced, and therefore the animals are always
carriers of Giardia. Stress can make the Giardia
return, and humans can catch it from their animals.
>Regarding the Giardia that your ferret got from your
>new baby ferret.
>I
>really also wonder if it could be ECE, I think I
would >treat it for
>ECE,
>supplement feeding is very important.
I don't know what you mean by supplement feeding but I
will explain what I am doing and you can tell me if I
should do something different. I am treating my boys
for the dehydration caused by the diarrhea, and giving
them something bland and easily digestible for their
bowels. The baby has a mixture involving Pedialyte,
kibble, and Gerber's Chicken and Gravy. One of the
older boys just wants the Pedialyte and Gerber's
Chicken and Gravy separate from his kibble. My other
boy is still pigging out on his kibble and doesn't
want the Gerber.
I am carefully keeping an eye on the boys to make sure
they don't dehydrate by doing the scruff test. Every
day they are on the medicine they are gaining weight
and acting more like their playful selves.
Kelley and the G. boys
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