To Debbie Riccio (of whom I am a staunch supporter and a friend):
(For those of you who don't know, Debbie's problems with ECE have been
some of the most tragic and heartbreaking that I have come across, but
that's another story)
>I think - and this is my own opinion - not shared by many - that shelters
>who have had ECE should not take in any more ferrets. This is not to say
>that shelters should go out of business or give up what they are doing,
>but switch to a new building/house.
Debbie - while this is a good idea, in many places it just isn't
feasible. In many places, there is only one person that runs a shelter. I
would rather see an unwanted ferret with ECE for a few days than a ferret
get turned in to the pound or neglected by an uncaring owner, or abused in
some other way. I know many shelters that are operating with ECE, and
although they have had to change their way of doing business, they still
provide a safe haven for unwanted ferrets.
Also, when you switch houses/buildings, it's more than that (which I
hope everyone understands. You don't bring any of the ferrets from the old
shelter into the new one. Chances are everyone is infected and are possible
shedders.
>Many new outbreaks often occur on the show circuit. I believe this is
>how it is spreading so rapidly. Apparently once confined to the east
>coast, ECE has now spread across country as people travel to shows and
>then bring it back home with them.
Yes, and also from people that import ferrets from the East coast for
breeding.
>I know of a couple of clubs who stopped taking ferrets into their existing
>shelters and opened new shelters. I think this is the responsible thing
>to do. I also think it is irresponsible not to tell people who drop
>ferrets off at shelters that you have had ECE.
Yes. And if you have ECE in your shelter, don't board any ferrets.
Sounds obvious, but I heard from several families who've left their ferrets
and shelters for boarding, and came back to sick ferrets....
>It's also been 2 years now since they were infected - Dr. Williams, do
>you think my ferrets are safe yet or is it still possible for them to
>pass this on to unexposed ferrets?
Honestly, Debbie, I don't know. 2 years seems like an awfully long time,
but so does 4 months. I wish I could tell you.
Bruce H. Williams, DVM Dept. of Veterinary Pathology
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
[log in to unmask] Washington, D.C. 20306-6000
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1242]
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