Message Number: SG6243 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: tiabmaps@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 04:52:52 +0100 (BST)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: ECE Recovery Advice
Message-ID: <7844311.1065671572083.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I apologize for the long post, but I want to include as much information as=
I can before I ask questions=85
We just brought home a six month old jill (Savannah) to add to our family o=
f 3 seniors (Nikki, Sunny and Abby). All of the seniors are about 6 1/2 to=
7 years old. We purchased Savannah through a private breeder, mainly beca=
use we wanted her to have time to mature before she is spayed. Over the pa=
st 10 years we=92ve been owned by 14 fuzzies and have always had uneventful=
introductions. Although we consider ourselves ferret knowledgeable, this =
time we learned that we did not take sufficient precautions to protect our =
existing family from ECE.
Within 24 hours, all Nikki, Sunny and Abby were showing symptoms of ECE (Su=
nny more severely than the others). Savannah has no symptoms. We took all=
four to our veterinarian on Monday morning (10/05/2003) and they stayed th=
ere all day. =
Our Vet diagnosed their condition as:
1. Virus of the immune system
2. Symptoms of Corona virus =96 ECE
3. Clostridia bacteria
4. He took a bacteria culture which came back today and showed indications =
of a Proteus Mirabilis bacteria
5. He believes Savannah to be the carrier of the virus
He prescribed the following:
1. During their stay, he administered sub-cu fluids to the 3
2. Metronidozale and Amoxicillin for all 4 (twice daily for 7 days)
3. Recommended Pepto for the 3 with diarrhea (three times a day)
4. Scrub all litter boxes and food dishes
5. Keep Savannah separated for the next 3 months.
6. Do not let the others share Savanna=92s litter boxes or food dishes
7. Always thoroughly wash hands after handling.
In addition to the prescribed medications, we have been feeding Gerber 2nd =
Foods Chicken baby food every four hours and giving unflavored Pedialyte to=
help with hydration. This morning (10/08/2003) Sunny was showing signs of=
dehydration, so we took him in and he was given 100 cc=92s of sub-cu fluid=
s. =
Right now, the three are caged together and are holding their own. Abby is=
fairly active but still has diarrhea. Nikki is lethargic, but his stools =
look better. Sunny is also lethargic with diarrhea. Savannah is like a li=
ttle tornado and has solid stools. =
We=92ve read Dr. Williams=92 ECE pathology page, but we have a few specific=
questions that it could not answer. =
1. By keeping Savannah are we increasing the risk to the other three? =
2. Since all are now exposed, should Savannah be strictly quarantined in a =
closed off room or is a separate cage sufficient?
3. Assuming a strict quarantine is not necessary=85 Once the three are well=
enough to get out-and-about, should they be allowed to play in the same ro=
om that Savannah has played in?
4. Once we are past this illness (God willing), is it foolish to attempt in=
troducing a kit to our seniors?
5. The Metronidozale REALLY stresses them out (gagging, etc.). Could it be=
doing more harm than good?
6. We did have a weeklong trip planned for next week (the ferrets always tr=
avel with us). That has now been rescheduled for the week of 10/20. Is it=
unrealistic to think that they may be well enough to travel (by car) by th=
en?
7. Is there anything we are missing that might help to ensure the recovery =
of our babies?
Thank you for taking the time to read this. All feedback and information i=
s greatly appreciated.
Aaron & Tracy
=
=
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.