From:
mjanke@miamiferret.org
Date: 2003-02-04 23:51:44 UTC
Subject: RE: diarrhea/lethargy
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <25016710.1044402704719.JavaMail.root@scandium>
It would be very unusual for a ferret that has never had ECE to be exposed to an ECE carrier for a month before developing the disease. Possible I suppose, but unlikely and I'd have to say that's probably not the cause.
Have you personally been in contact with another ferret in the last week? Say, visiting a pet store and cuddling one of the baby ferrets there and then coming home and handling yours before washing and changing clothes? That's another way to transmit ECE.
But there's another thing to think about. The problem with baby ferrets in pet stores infecting others with ECE has been occuring for a few years now and yours are all less than 2 years. If all of your ferrets are pet store ferrets, it's likely that they already had this disease. Although, the damage done by ECE can often cause a reoccurance of similar symptoms, but not as severe nor as long lasting.
Diagnois of ECE is still done symptomatically. There is no test for it. Personally, I think your vet needs to dig a little deeper. Lots of things can cause diarrhea. This doesn't sound like ECE.
mike
Author wrote:
said he has ECE. I have never had experience with it. Is there no test to diagnose it better than symptoms? Also, I read on MiamiHeath that "These symptoms usually appear within 48 hours of introducing a new ferret into the household." I do have a new ferret, but have had her over a month now.