Wendy, there are several possibilities but here is a highly likely one: http://www.afip.org/ferrets/ECE/ECE.html and there is more on this coronavirus in the FHL Archives. BTW, for those who don't know either of these two things: ECE has been molecularly characterized. There is a new coronavirus being seen in ferrets which behaves and looks like the dry form of FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) in cats. It was first identified in Europe but has been found in several places in the U.S. beginning last year. Dry FIP develops slowly in cats without pronounced fluid accumulation. Common symptoms include weight loss, anemia, fever, and depression. Young cats may have thier growth stunted. Also: BEGIN QUOTE Other symptoms depend on the organs affected: Increased water consumption and urination (kidneys) Jaundice (liver) Vomiting and/or diarrhea (pancreas) Ocular inflammation, conjunctivitis, and blindness (eyes) Brain inflammation, paralysis in the hind legs, weakness, shaking, vertigo, seizures, and personality changes (central nervous system) The affected organs often develop a characteristic pyogranulomatous inflammation, in which the diseased tissue becomes thickened with an accumulation of white blood cells. The only definitive way to diagnose this form of FIP is by postmortem biopsy of the lesions. END QUOTE from http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/fip/symptoms.shtml http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG662 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG394 Another problem seen too often is failure to look for the right coccidia forms and failure to look at least 3 times in a week with diarrhea. http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG655 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG616 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG592 I suggest printing those references out for your vet and yourself. Sukie (not a vet) Current FHL address: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth People can join there or can send a blank mail to the automated joining address: [log in to unmask] and then follow the directions. (The second is recommended for those having problems with Yahoogroups web settings, and afterward send a blank mail from your subscribed address to [log in to unmask] to get the digest instead of individual mails. ) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml [Posted in FML 5503]