To expose or not to expose one's own ferrets to ECE is a choice for each
individual to make.  As a shelter operator, I always make potential adopters
well aware of ECE to the best of my knowledge, and let the final decision of
whether they wish to adopt a ferret from my shelter up to them.  But hey, if
NOBODY adopted from a shelter because of ECE, what would we do, I can't keep
them all.  I'm very "middle of the road" about this issue.  Sometimes after
a terrible bout with ECE and one of my charges, I will get so upset that I
wish all ferrets had gotten it at some point in their life so as a shelter I
wouldn't have to deal with it when they come here, along with the numerous
other problems we deal with on a daily basis.  Believe me, I've analyzed my
feelings, trying to put myself in both places for years.  But on the other
hand, I feel it is selfish of me (I'm not speaking for anyone here but
myself) to wish others' healthy ferrets to be sick, as they MAY NEVER HAVE
TO deal with ECE with their own personal ferrets, but I HAVE TO deal with it
as a shelter operator, ECE is here when it chooses & I have no choice.  One
thing I do know, kits & ferrets ~1 year & under do not concern me nearly as
much as the older take-ins when it comes to ECE.  We take ferrets regardless
of age or condition, & the worst experiences (with the exception of two
severe cases in 2 year olds) have all been in the 4+ age group.  As just a
personal ferret owner like many FMLer's, I think I would feel as many of
them do...keep that "crap" away from my baby!  Think about it.
 
We too have lived with ECE (on & off) since Memorial Day of 1993.  This is a
day I shall always remember (E-Day).  I had 35 ferrets come down with the
virus within 4 days.  Projectile vomiting & projectile green poop,
dehydration, listlessness & of course, the TOTAL loss of appetite/drinking
in 18 of the 35.  I became a recluse in my own home - not going anywhere but
to work & back after (at best) 2-3 hours sleep per night.  Wondering each
day if I had the strength to go on with my "labor of love" for the animals
that meant the world to me.
 
We came through the virus with all ferrets surviving except two, "Papa
Gumby" & "Fluffy".  Papa Gumby was a 9-year old rescued ferret.  At the age
of 7 I took him in from a backyard breeder (he was the oldest one of 13 from
this "breeder") who had never touched/handled Papa or any of the other 12,
they were kept in a cage in the back yard of their house, food was dumped
through the top of his cage & feces fell out through the bottom.  Papa found
life at 7, only to be taken from me because of "the crud".  Oh how I can
still see his sad little eyes only 6 days after onset.  My dearest little
one was suffering & could bear no more, nor could I.  (Yes, we did
EVERYTHING for him, believe me.) With one of the deepest, most
heart-wrenching feelings I've ever felt, I gave my Papa my gift of death.
Then there was Fluffy - a 3-1/2 year old female who loved life (she was one
of my original "magnificent seven" ferrets I began with before taking on
operating a shelter in 1992).  After 3 months of battling with 5 different
antibiotics, sub-q fluids, nutritional supplementation, homeopathic
remedies, force-feeding (the entire 3 months) and seeing 3 different vets -
my baby collapsed, unable to walk or raise her head.  Yes, the crud killed
my baby.  Again, I chose to end her suffering.
 
As I said - all but 2 "survived" the crud, but oh, the story doesn't end
there.  "Mama's Joy", a 2-year old female, got the crud also on E-Day, along
with all the others.  She gave birth to 3 beautiful female kits the day
after.  Well, to make this short, she got the crud, her milk dried up when
her kits were only 2 weeks old (I did successfully surrogate them, thank
God) & she continued battling for the next year.  Come & go, oh it did.
Good days, bad days.  Mama still lives with us today, as does one of her
still beautiful daughters.  (BTW - none of her kits ever exhibited any
signs/symptoms of ECE).  She has never regained & then retained weight for
any period of time.  She gains/loses within days/weeks.  Supplementation,
special diets, homeopathics, medications, veterinarians - doesn't matter,
she cannot heal.  I last had her to the vet a little over a year ago, (a
ferret specialist), who said the fact that she was alive is "amazing".  She
cannot absorb/retain the nutrients she needs, no matter what.
 
Right, wrong - is there one or the other in debating/battling/living with
ECE?  It is only for you & you alone to decide, just make educated choices,
no matter what.  Just remember, I have put myself in your place, now
remember to put yourself in mine.  Be objective, everyone has an opinion.  I
have to LIVE with ECE, many of you don't.  There are always two sides to
every situation & what is best for you may not be the best for someone else.
 
If I can be of any assistance to anyone that is dealing with the crud,
please e-mail me ([log in to unmask]).  I will help you in any way I can.  Bless
all of us in our new or continuing battle with this terrible virus.  (sorry
this is so long, but I had to say what I felt)
 
Sincerely - Fran & the Fuzzies in PA
[Posted in FML issue 1635]