Dear Barb:
 
>About 6 weeks ago Stormy had really bad slimy diarrhea.  I took her to the
>vet and he said that she might have ECE.  She was on antibiotics for 10
>days and things started to look better.  Her stool got firmer and only
>?had a little slime in it once in a while.  Storm actually put on a couple
>of ounces, she is eating, drinking and playing like her normal self.  But
>now the seedy diarrhea with some slime is back all of a sudden.
 
>Is that still the aftermath of the ECE or could it be something different
>all together?
 
The aftermath of ECE can last up to a year - the damage to the intestine
caused by the virus can clear up within weeks, or in about 20% of cases,
can reulst in ill thrift, weight loss, and vacillating stool quality for
months.  The intestine, during the course of infection, loses up to 90%
of its surface absorptive area.  Even though the viral presence may be
minimal, in some animals the body continues to mount an inflammatory
response to it, and the continued inflammation presence proper healing of
the intestine.
 
In most cases, this simply becomes evident when some dietary stress is
present - too many treats, a new type of food, etc.  AFter 6 weeks the
majority of ECE ferrets are back on their normal food and doing pretty
well, but if they go off for any reason, the stools get bad again.  In the
past, some people thought this may be due to re-infection, but that's not
the case - it's simply an injured intestine getting too much of a workout.
 
At this point, as she is eating, playing well, and gaining weight, I would
not suggest any anti-inflammatory treatment at this time, but a return to
a bland diet, with slow re-introduction to kibble in a couple of weeks.
And let's keep a close eye on her appetite, activity and weight.
 
With kidnest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM
[Posted in FML issue 3275]