Beth
I have also seen a lot of helicobacter, sometimes but not always preceded
by ECE.  I use Biaixin (chlarithromycin sp?) for treating the helicobacter.
It seems to have an effect much more quickly than Flagyl, you only have to
give it once a day for 2 weeks, and it doesn't taste as bad as Flagyl.
 
According to Dr. Bruce Williams in the helicobacter FAQ
<http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/med/ulcers.html>, the dosage is 50mg/kg
once a day for 2 weeks.
 
Biaixin is moderately expensive, but it you get the vet to prescribe the
suspension unmixed, you can mix it with water as needed.  Get it in the
higher concentration (it comes in 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml) and the normal
dosage for a 2-2.5 lb ferret would be 1 cc.  It does not need to be
refridgerated after mixing, unlike amoxycilin.
 
Good luck with your little ones.
 
Linda Iroff
Raisin Retreat Ferret Shelter
Oberlin, OH
http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html
[Posted in FML issue 2488]