From:
tiabmaps@hotmail.com
Date: 2003-10-09 03:52:52 UTC
Subject: ECE Recovery Advice
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
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
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