From:
"zoosferretsanctuary"
Date: 2008-12-20 15:28:53 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Lethal, Hot Strain of ECE
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
I posted this on CSI Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:30 am after reading the crosspost from Danee DeVore.
:RE: An Important FYI - possibly a new and very lethal strain of ECE
This sounds like what we have been experiencing here. We have had 12
losses in the past few weeks, ten could have had this. The
outstanding characteristic is the rapid dehydration & difficulty re-
hydrating. We see rapid weight loss (Overnight!!) They become SO
dehydrated in 8-12 hours that they are barely recognizeable. Their
faces even change.
They are more prone to ulcers than the ECE victims we had years ago.
In fact, we opened up Little Girl, and she had BAD ulcers. We sent
tissue in to the lab for histo. Results are not back yet. Treatment
we have been using is fluids 3X daily (25-35 cc`s depending on weight
of the ferret) and amoxi drops (50mg/ml) 0.3-0.4cc.. After Little girl, our vet
added flagyl for the sick ones.Carafate before feedings, and pepcid
suspension to help neutralize the acid. Several had already begun to
come back up (slowly) by the time the flagyl was added. Of course,
the older & ill ones were most at risk.
We lost
Hazel
Omega
Alpha
Nibbles
Sweetie
Sweetpea
Peanut
Chachi
Martini
and Abby.
Recovering (very slowly) are
Felix
George
Princess
Noel
Morrigan
Grimly
Vixen
Cosette
Joey
Slinky (Indiana kid with egg-sized tumor in her chest) Wouldn`t you
think we`d have lost her? She is so tiny...but hanging in there.
Color of feces IS sometimes green/black,& slimy.Color ranges from
mint green to olive green to black.Sometimes watery, sometimes
slimy. There is little to no vomiting, no fever,no appetite. One
peculiar thing I have noticed--even from across the room--is that
their noses seem very pink/flushed, when they are coming down with
it.When you pick one up, it has a hard, woody feel, because of the
severe dehydration. There are no parasites. Dr. X noted some
large rods, so we began using the metranidozole benzoate (marshmallow
flavor) (flagyl)on some of them.
Others in the room are bouncing & playing & seem unaffected--so far...
Things appear to (finally!) be settling down.
This has been a rough month.
Love, Zoo
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