Feb. 95 I had two ferrets, Litje (N/D MF male, 11 mos. 2.5 lbs, prone to allergies/bronchitis) and Turlough (N/D MF male, 7 mos. 3.0 lbs) One evening I handled a kit in a pet store, which was in with another kit that had loose stools. 3 days later there was a puddle of lime green diarrhea in my guys' litterpan, and both were slightly subdued. Still having diarrhea later that afternoon, so Dr. Klein figured I carried something home from the kits, & was possibly coccidia or giardia. She put them on Albon, 0.5ml 2x daily. After a couple of days, the stools were more brown than green, but still varied between loose and diarrhea. Appetite and activity were both subdued, slight dehydration. When the problem had not cleared sufficiently after 1 week, Dr Klein switched them to Flagyl, 30mg 2x daily. The reaction was almost instant; within 2 days their stool was firming up, appetite was increasing, and the occasional green tint in the stool was almost gone. After Litje and Turlough completed 7 days on the Flagyl, a friend gave me his two ferrets - timing wasn't great, but his wife didn't like them. Gaoth (S/D female, unkn breeder, 5-6 mos, 1.0 lb) and Cyrex (N/D male, unkn breeder, 2? years, 2.25 lbs) Both developed green diarrhea 3 days later, and Litje and Turlough started again (though not as severe) a couple days after. All 4 were put on Flagyl. Litje, Turlough and Gaoth responded more quickly than Cyrex, but after 10 days on Flagyl all were symptom free, within 1 more week seemed completely recovered. BTW, the diarrhea was not preceded by any coughing or gagging. If there had been any vomiting, it would have to have been at night when they weren't observed, but I never found any evidence of it in the cages. Cyrex was given to a friend who needed a playmate for her ferret Gigi. After he finished his Flagyl, and remained symptom free for several days, he was taken over to his new home. They were quarantined from each other for 1 week, then allowed to meet. Gigi remains symptom free (she had never been sick in her life at all), and Cyrex never relapsed. Litje, Turlough and Gaoth still had an occasional green tint to their stool for a few months, but no more green diarrhea. In Oct '95 I 'rescued' Quidni (S/D, female, 1 yr old, unkn. breeder, 1.75 lbs) She was not in the greatest condition when I got her - dry & brittle coat, poor muscletone, chapped pads and afraid of everything. I had recently learned about ECE, and was concerned that this was what my guys had fought earlier; I expected Quidni to develop the symptoms. She had 2 loose stools the first month, but no real diarrhea, and nothing green. I do not think she ever had ECE, or any other major illness; her first owners would have probably gotten rid of her a lot sooner if she had. My question - does this sound more like possible ECE (which we'd never heard of at the time) or like something else? If ECE, why didn't Gigi or Quidni develop symptoms? Could it have been giardia (it was going around town with people at the time) because it responded so well to Flagyl? Dr Klein didn't do bloodwork, since they did respond so quickly to the Flagyl. What are the most likely possiblities? This is a "Need to Know" question, since we are starting a club and ferret interaction is not only likely, but practically mandated. Many thanks in advance for your opinions. My vet has appreciated the input, also - not just the treatment protocols, but also the "IMHO"-type experience and opinions - any answers to my ?? here will be passed on also. Blessings, Carla & the Woozlemaniacs [Posted in FML issue 1464]