Based on your description, you have more than just ECE going on - you
have a gastric ulcer.  Grinding teeth is classic for abdominal pain, and
is often a sign of gastric ulcers - especially in those ferrets under the
stress of a systemic illness like ECE.
 
There is a lot of information in the archives of the FHL, the FML, and
on my page at http://www.afip.org/ferrets on gastric ulcers.  In brief,
these are holes in the lining of the stomach.  When a ferret begins to
eat, he stomach liberates acid in preparation for digesting the food
coming down the esophagus.  The acid gets in the ulcer and it hurts -
ferrets immediately stop eating.  When they realize that every time they
try to eat it hurts - they will then refuse food.
 
The treatment for this disease is not to stop feeding them, or to stop
the acid production, but to use a drug to plug the holes (temporarily)
and prevent the acid from getting in the acid.  That drug is Carafate, is
readily available, and with good nursing care, a bland diet, and the rest
of the treatment outline on my Web site, will really help with ulcers.
 
Ulcers do complicate ECE, and it appears that you have had a really tough
time.  However, this is one that you can save with the proper approach.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
 
Join the Ferret Health List at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list
[Posted in FML issue 3421]