ECE in Ferrets?

Question

Can you buy ECE meds without having to take your ferret to the vet? I am sure she has it b/c we had another ferret die of ECE before with the same symptoms. We were just too late when we took her to the vet and she died a week later.

Answer 1

ECE, Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis. I question if this is what your ferret has? I would definitely see a vet if your ferret has something going on as ferrets are very prone to 'many' illnesses and ECE generally doesn't kill a ferret. Mortality rate is actually very low with ECE and generally only older, sickly ferrets with a rate of about 5% actually die from it . Back in 1995 I went through ECE with my 4 ferrets I had at the time. Mittens whom I bought at a pet store was the 'carrier' and brought it into the rest of my group. With ECE you will generally see symptoms within 2-3 days 'after' being exposed to a carrier of the disease. The 'first' symptom of ECE was my ferrets threw up a clear liquid and within the next 24 hours they quit eating and started defecating a 'green slimy' poop; my other 3 ferrets contracted this and symptoms the same. My ferrets also began becoming very dehydrated and lost weight at an enormously 'fast' rate. There is no medications for ECE, only supportive treatment. I know my Pooh was hospitalized for a week receiving antibiotics and Sub-q fluids daily. My other ferrets faired well with just antibiotics for supportive care. Owning ferrets you learn how to do Sub-q's and I always have lactate ringers and syringes on hand now! Generally young ferrets, less than 6 months old, are 'carriers' and most of the time never show any type of symptoms as did my Mittens. Ferrets that contract ECE can shed the virus for 6 months so it is best not to introduce or have your ferrets around other ferrets. All of my ferrets recovered and did very well, Pooh lived to be 9 years old! With ECE you will feed a bland diet that is easy for the ferret to digest & absorb, I fed a mix of Science Diet A/D and Gerber's chicken and gravy, stage 2 with some water to make it were they could 'lap' it. Also you want to avoid sugar additives such as Ensure or Substical, these drinks are soy based and 'loaded' with sugar, none which are good for healthy or sick ferrets. Duck soup should be high animal protein and fat and 'very low' sugar. If you are interested in my Duck soup recipe, email me and I'll be happy to share it with you. My recipe is also posted on several ferret forums.

My soup junkies:

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If your are interested in learning more about ECE, here is Dr. Bruce Williams on the topic. If you are not familiar with Dr. Williams here is some information about him as he is the one who identified ECE in ferrets:

http://www.afip.org/ferrets/ECE/ECE.html



"Dr. Williams is the Chairman of the Department of Telemedicine as well as a staff pathologist for the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC. In addition to publishing numerous articles on ferret disease & pathology in the scientific and lay press, Dr. Williams is credited with the identification of a novel coronavirus as the cause of epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE). Dr. Williams is the Senior Vice President of the C.L. Davis Foundation for the Advancement of Veterinary Pathology and sits on the editorial boards of Veterinary Pathology and Pets Magazine."



Again, seek out a vet and have a CBC done and glucose to see if there is something else going on!



Best wishes!

Answer 2

How old is your ferret?

The younger the better. Some of the younger ferrets only show symptoms for a few days and then they're as good as new, although they can continue to "spill" the virus for a long time afterwards. So please make sure you do not handle any other ferrets for a while at least not without thoroughly washing your hands and covering your clothing.

Once a ferret has overcome the symptoms it acquires lifetime immunity to the disease.

Feed your ferret easily digested foods like Gerber stage2 turkey or chicken baby food and "duck soup". You can see if she'll eat it on her own but you may have to spoon or syringe feed her for a while.

"Duck Soup" is really just a name for any type of special diet for sick or elderly ferrets. Google it and find one you like, you don't have to get too complicated.

My oldest female was very ill in January and I mixed gerber chicken or turkey food with some FerretVite(a vitamin paste), a tiny bit of Ferretone, cause she loves it so, and Pedialyte. Careful not to make it too thin or your ferret could choke on it if you are syringe feeding.

Here's one recipe I found online

One can Sustacal 8oz (this is non-dairy)

One can water

4oz dry food -soaked in enough water to cover and soften completely

Optional-electrolyte water (really helps-comes in powder form), baby food such as chicken or turkey.



You still need to get your ferret checked by the vet, especially since you have had ECE in your house prior. Good luck to you and your fert.

Answer 3

The only thing you can do for a ferret who developes ECE is to give supportive care. The best place for this is at your veterenarians office. They can keep the ferret on site for several days while you cross your fingers. There is no immunization or cure...it just has to be 'waited out'.



If a ferret developes ECE as a kit it has a better chance of survival...older more established ferrets sustain a harder blow from the illness and almost never survive. Here is a website that will give you some more information on ECE.



http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/ece.asp

Answer 4

if they are famous you can buy without hesitating