We have sad news.  After a 9 month quarantine we took in our first ferret on
Friday.  She came down with diarrhea 48 hours after she came to us.... She
is doing very well and loves my special recipe so hopefully we can take her
through quickly and easily.  Our next try on incoming will be June 10, 1997.
In the meantime, we have foster homes to take the overload.
 
I've said I'd like to keep all the ferrets that come to me but not this way.
It is just so frightening to expose yet another little one to such a virus
as ECE.  I don't mind the every 4 hour feedings and meds or the clean up,
but to put them through it, well it can't be good for them, and it is such a
heavy burden to carry.  There is always that fear that they won't make it
through.
 
But I will turn this little setback into something positive.  I was so busy
with our 60 with ECE that I didn't have time to document the illness and
it's progress.  I will be able to do this with Kadie.
 
In view of our situation I offered my Fredonia ferret, that Lynda has been
keeping for me, to her and Donn.  They talked about it and agreed to keep
him.  I see him sometimes on the weekends so it isn't as if I'll never see
him again.  Because I love him, all ferrets for that matter, I want them to
have the best.  It was with joy and a little sadness in my heart that I
offered him to Donn and Lynda.  Thank you both for all of your help through
our trials and for opening your hearts and homes to these little ones.
 
And thanks to everyone for their support. Sometimes we get so busy we
forget to say thank you so a great big heartfelt THANK YOU to all.
 
Dick thought Kadie might possibly have a case of shelter stress and not ECE.
Oh how I wish it were so.  If it clears up in a week then I'll let everyone
know.
 
We've had stool samples analyzed and no Helicobacter, coccidia, or any other
bacteria or parasites so we've ruled those out on the others.  We'll run a
sample on Kadie too just in case.
 
Zipper and Charlie are doing well.  They have more energy and Zipper has
recovered from her wrenched neck muscles (happened when she was being
sub-q'd).  I'm still amazed at how large their spleens were.
 
Hugs and love to all.  tle
[Posted in FML issue 1780]