Can Ferrets get ECE more than once.

We seem to have ECE here at our house. We have 8 ferrets housed in two
Ferret Nation two level cages. They share play space, toys, and time.

One ferret named Sprout (who I've posted about) is recovering. He is
maintaining a weight of 2 lbs 3 ounces to 2 lbs 4 ounces, and I think
it will climb some more as we are feeding him 30 - 35 mls of pureed
chicken mixed with 45 mls of water three times a day. He licks it from
the end of the syringe as it dribble out. He had been down to 1 lb 13.5
ounces. His stools are loose only slightly green at times otherwise a
little dark. He is on 0.5mg Prednisolone and pepsid twice a day. He is
looking more alert and active although he still isn't back to 100
percent. I'm told it can take 3 - 6 months to fully recover.

Now a second ferret Bandit has lost weight and was under 2 lbs. We
started him on the chick just like Sprout. At the vet his glucose was
45 although he was very alert and active. His stool had a lot of sport
forming bacteria (Sprout had that before he lost weight). Everything
else looked okay. He is on the same food regimen as Sprout and he is
getting 0.25 mls of Clavamox and 10 mg of Prednisolon twice a day. His
weight was 2 lbs even at the vets and we are hopeful that it will
continue to climb with the feedings.

It seems that either the ECE is preceded with the spore forming rod
bacteria or it is followed by it (more likely followed and its an
opportunistic bacteria). We don't want to put him on pred while he
has a bacterial infection.

Bandit sleeps in one cage with three other ferrets and Sprout sleeps
with the other three in the other cage. Sprout is in a hospital cage
right now since his surgery.

We figure that they all have been exposed to it and sometimes we find
some green loose stools but they are not bright green they are very
light green and you have to look close to see it.

We're not sure if we should or can keep everyone separated from each
other or if it would make any difference at this point.

We are going to keep a close watch on everyone weight and keep giving
the chicken to those who are underweight.

The reason I ask is about whether or not ferrets can get ECE more than
once is, once Bandit is over his bacterial infection we are thinking of
keeping him and Sprout together until they have recovered from the ECE

Also where does ECE come from? Is it normally in the environment? I
just wonder how we got it here in the first place.

Thanks

Mike

[Posted in FML 6648]