From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-03-24 21:03:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ECE Question...
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., heyjennirwin@a... wrote:
> I've been reading the FHL for a while now and I would like to thank
everyone
> working to keep this going. This is such a great thing!
>
> I have a question (health concern) that I'd like everyone's
opinion/advice
> on. I have 6 ferrets, of ages 6 months to 3 years. Recently,
(within the
> last week and a half), they have been having diarrhea on and off.
They will
> have it once or twice, then have a normal b.m., and so on. The
feces itself
> is yellow or greenish, often mucouslike, and in general just very
gross
> looking. They are all still eating and playing and acting
otherwise
> normally. I work at a petstore and I do handle the kits there and
although
> I try to be safe about it, it is possible that I could have brought
something
> home with them.
>
> Does what I describe sound like it might be ECE?? Or could anyone
give me
> any other suggestions as to what it might be??
Dear Jennifer -
The fact that all of these animals are passing bad stools, all at the
same time, and that you work at a petstore does make ECE a likely
possibility in this case. If you haven't seen anyone get extremely
ill, and everyone is still eating and drinking, then you are quite
lucky.
Of course, there are other infectious agents which may result in an
outbreak - coccidia and Giardia are possibilities here, and should
necessitate a fecal test and smear, respectively.
with kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dvm