ECE

[jenclarke23]

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know about our ferrets. About a week and a half ago one of our ferrets, Delilah, contracted ECE. Of course being so contagous Jacob then caught it as they all share a cage, bedding etc. Rupert and Cujo had both already had ECE and they didn't show any symptoms. I've heard that once a ferret gets this disease they won't get it again. We seperated Delilah but I guess not early enough to keep her from infecting Jacob.

So symptoms:
-Green slimy poop sometimes neon sometimes just green
- lethargic
- not eating dry kibble

For about 5 days we fed them a soup of gerbers chicken baby food with ground up kibble and 100% pumpkin and while they wouldn't eat it from the dish they lapped it up from the baby dropper or the spoon. If they hadn't been eating voluntarily (well with a little pursuasion) I would have taken them straight to the vet but as there isn't a cure for ECE I decided to home care them. Luckly for me I had a couple of days built up to take off so we fed them soup three times a day and once during the night. I'm so happy to say that all symptoms seem to be gone. They're still getting thier soup once a day to make sure that they are getting enough fluids and because they love it. They are eating kibble and drinking though which is such a relief! We'll keep a very close eye on them but I'm hoping that they only contracted a mild version as I've heard of ferrets having this for months.

Of course now I have to be careful not to go near other ferrets so I don't pass on the disease but that's okay.

Just thought I'd share my story in case anyone else has this problem. I do advise going to the vet if your ferrets aren't eating or drinking at all but mine love soup (even Jacob loved the soup with the pumpkin added which is strange) so I was pretty confident that they were getting enough food and water.

Cheers All!
Jen

[Tressie]

Hi Jen,

The ones who had it before will have immunity to it now. The two who currently have it will be infectious for up to a year.

The challenge with ECE comes with the mouth and GI ulcers they develop which makes it painful to eat and drink. So if either of them stop eating or drinking that is why and becomes even more critical to keep them fed and hydrated.

Be prepared for recurring bouts of up to a year, but most peter out within 6 months.

Poor little things - it is a miserable virus to get.

Sometimes they do need to be put on antibiotics for secondary infections that may develop. But sounds like you are on top of things and are prepared to go to vet as necessary.

Thanks for sharing this experience - the more people know about others' experiences the better prepared they will be when encountering it in their own.

Tressie

[jenclarke23]

Hi Tressie,
Thanks for the advice. I will be keeping a close eye on them and continue feeding the soup to ensure they are all getting the proper nutrition. Delilah especially seemed very miserable...hiding in her play tube a lot. She also got incredibly territorial about one of her toys but that seems to have worn off a bit now. I have to take Rupert in sometime this month to get his teeth checked out so if symptoms come back or Delilah seems any worse I will make the appointment for her as well.

On another note we are moving house in the next few days and I expect the move may stress the fuzzies out a little so I will be prepared to see some more pooh-problems when that happens. That's bad but on the upside the fuzzies will get a bigger play area and we won't have to worry about others in the house accidently letting them out of their room! I will post pictures and videos soon!

Thanks again,
Jen

[christina127]

What kind of soup should i feed him?