When Gizzie was so sick he almost died we tried the usual antibiotics and
finally went with LIQUID gentocin.  This just means instead of injecting it
I gave it to him ORALLY.  This is less harmful than injecting, according to
our vet and it was the only antibiotic that worked.  Each time I'd take
Gizzie off the drug he would get the severe diarrhea (every color except
the bright florescent green) so we'd put him back on it and it was 6 weeks
before I could keep him off.  I gave him supplements to put the good
bacteria back in (i.e.  yogurt and acidophilus (sp) tablets, etc.) and fed
him A/D/Pedialyte mixture.  None of the other ferrets were affected.
Chronic colitis???  The vet didn't hold hope for him but I kept trying
(which is why the 6-week antibiotic regiment which I really had to push for
- at that point I felt the risk of the drug was not as strong as the risk
of loosing Gizzie if we didn't do something).  I also went against vet
advice on quarantining him because he was so depressed after 2 days he did
not have a will to live, but once allowed with the others he perked right
up.  You have to understand that we live a little differently than most
others, the ferrets, the dogs, and myself all live in the same space - no
one is caged (unless of course, it's the penalty cage for very short
periods of time)- and we bond so closely together that taking them apart is
like a death sentence.  I knew exactly what risks I was taking and accept
responsibility for the consequences, good or bad.  Gizzie had 2 more
episodes but we were prepared and started him on gentocin immediately.
After 3 weeks the next time and 2 weeks the time after and minimal weight
loss Gizzie was fine.  2 yrs after Gizzie is a pleasingly plump 5+ pounds
(just in case).  As close as I can tell it is stress and milk based
products that cause the reaction so we try to avoid both (one easier than
the other).
 
Hugs to all and have a wonderful weekend.  tle
[Posted in FML issue 1290]