> Subject: ECE question - dilemma I think you are entirely justified in not wanting to expose your ferrets to other ferrets that may have had ECE. I think it is epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) For the Chicago reader who asked, there is a lot of info on the FERRET WORLD web page. I have a ferret right now, Squeegy who has had ECE for two weeks. Some days he is better and some days he is worse. He hates all of his medication and hand feeding. I wonder which is worse, the stress of being restrained and medicated, or no medicine at all. Well, I insist he has his antibiotic, but he refuses to hand feed. He wants to still eat his regular food. I think it is like the two year old that says, "I do it myself. Don't help" He was always under weight, hovering around 2# and 5 oz. Now he is only 2# and I can feel all of his bones, his ribs and spine. He has the indomitable ferret spirit, but you can see how easily he tires. I have to be there every night and morning for medication, so there goes the weekend trip I had planned with my family. The vet said he can be sick as long as a month, and you know they can be infectious for months. The carrier was a new baby ferret that by boyfriend bought, Chewbaca the Wookie. I helped him with it, as his first ferret, and unwisely exposed my two. Squeegy got it right away, but Hoover never has, and I doubt he will. Maybe he has the Green Slime resistance gene. Now Chewbaca is not allowed to visit, because he harasses Squeegy, who is too weak to fight back. I think you should be firm in feeling not to expose your ferrets, especially because your youngest is already ailing. It is unfortunate that your roommate is taking this personally, but try to help him/her understand the risks of ECE and the huge pain it is to treat. I think there has to be a compromise that your friend can still visit and still bring her ferrets, without exposing your fuzzies. The hotel sounded like a good idea. Be very careful. I have heard the virus can travel on clothes, so if you are around exposed ferrets, you should wash and change clothes before you come in contact with your own ferrets. I would never wish ECE on any ferret or owner. Stay strong in your opinion. Lori, Squeegy the sickly, and H.G. Vancouver the stout [Posted in FML issue 1724]