From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-02-15 20:16:11 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Introducing a new ferret
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8019210.1076876171012.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I do not know what -- if it is even known -- the minimum time from exposure to the outbreak of ECE is, but WITHIN 2 to 3 days is not unusual.
Yes, when it hit here we had ferrets go down as low as to about their previous body weight. We had a very nasty strain here and serious illness for about 3 months, with it definitely shortening the lifespans of at least two of the older ferrets, especially the one who developed kidney damage despite daily sub-cutaneous fluids.
Here is the best write up on ECE out there:
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/ECE/ECE.html
This doesn't mean that what you are dealing with isn't tension, or another contagious problem such as coccidia, merely that you can't offhand discount ECE from the bits said so far. Vomiting can be an early symptom. Has diarrhea begun (which it does with a vengence with ECE)?