Date:    Fri, 27 Feb 1998 07:14:53 -0800
From:    An Internet Solution <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: CA Vet Info II
 
>Also gang, don't forget that the 3rd annual Ferret Friendly Vet
>Directory is maintained on Ferret Anonymous' website -
>http://www.caoutlaws.com
 
>FA does a poll once a year to the vets to see if they treat ferrets.
>Those who answer yes are included in the directory.
 
Thank you for the update!  I was wondering where this was, and will add it
to my references.  Just to specify, the information I was offering (a
handful of references for CA vets) came from clients of vets who thought
they were good and experienced - happy fuzzy lovers.  Unfortunately, I never
heard back from the person who wrote me, but then, maybe they've found a
great vet!
 
Keep up all the great work down there in CA!  May you be free one
day, and soon...
 
Lynn Mc.
 
>Date:    Fri, 27 Feb 1998 01:32:38 -0800
>From:    Bruce Williams <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: More on the ECE research
 
>>I was somewhat taken aback to hear that a dozen of these ferrets had to
>>die for this study.  We bring ECE ferrets back to health every day; was
>>there no chance...
 
To Mike J:
>You are talking about a study done in 1994, when we didn't know anything
>about ECE, other than it was extremely contagious.  WE didn't understand
>how it was transmitted, or what it did to the body.  ECE wasn't widespread -
>it was affecting about eight or so shelters on the East coast.  The object
>was to study how the virus was shed, the effects it had on the body, and
>isolate the virus if possible.
 
Dear Dr. Williams.  I, too, was surprized by your tests, though admire your
honesty and courage to talk about them.  My initial questions echoed
Michaels, and I had anticipated the substance of your answers, which I was
still glad to hear.  I will never forget one of your posts about ECE, maybe
in Pam Greene's FAQ?  It went something like: be scared, be really scared...
(like X Files stuff!).  Our family has been through ECE (we're pretty sure)
and it goes on and on until you think it will never end; the diarrhea comes
and goes, then comes again, as if it will never leave.  We hand fed, gave
sub-q fluids, cleaned and disinfected everything everywhere, then started
again... it's like being held hostage, bathed in filth, illness, and fear.
So, I can understand why you needed to learn everything you could fast, and
can only imagine how scary it was to be involved when the disease was a
complete unknown.
 
A walk down memory lane... When we got infected, I called you.  You answered
the phone and told me what to do.  I'll be forever grateful for that.  Many
ferrets have died due to lack of enough supportive care.  We were lucky,
because of you (on your advice we switched antibiotics for one thing; among
other things, we also knew what was best to feed), and because of a kind vet
who taught us how to give sub-q fluids.  Our fuzzies made it through with
flying colors, though we may never know the longterm damage, or ECE's
involvement in the subsequent two adrenal cases we've had.  Still, by fast
correct action, we were able to minimize the damage.
 
>My biggest regret was that we were unable to isolate the virus - when
>the virus is finally isolated, then definitive diagnostic tests can be
>made, and a vaccine is possible.
 
Hm... But I thought the virus finally was isolated, if only with extreme
difficulty and this resulted in your ability to test for ECE, an extremetly
expensive, albeit not very reliable test.
 
You'd think there could be enough money in a vaccine that drug companies
might be interested.  How many fuzzy owners wouldn't gladly get the
vaccination and go to ferret frolics or elsewhere with much less worry and
stress?!... *sigh*... if only there were a human use for the research...
 
Anyway, thanks for your dedication and your honesty, Dr. Williams,
 
Lynn Mc.
[Posted in FML issue 2233]