Ferret health is so important that I felt this article was worth repeating. (RMcC)

Many of us have read Dr. Bruce Williams' article on ferret illnesses. Here is some of what he told us at the Ferrets 2000 Conference. His advice is not intended to be a substitute for your own vet's care.

ECE - this coronavirus has finally been isolated, which means that there may someday be a vaccine against it.

There appears to be more illness from the virus but fewer ferret deaths than first occurred. Asymptomatic carriers, (ferrets that don't appear to be sick but who can spread the disease), are typical, and they are often pet store kits.

Gastric ulcers often occur along with ECE. These are best treated with Crafate to coat the lining of the stomach and intestines, and with Bioxin and Amoxicillin to kill the Helicobacter bacteria that are related to the ulcers.

Watch for: vomiting, green slimey stools, black tar-like stools.

Insulinoma - Surgical removal of these cancerous tumors of the pancreas is the preferred method of treatment. Although 60 of ferrets are cured by surgery, 40% will develop another tumor. Medical treatment with Prednisone is helpful in ferrets that are not good surgical candidates.

Watch for: weakness, drooling, tics, seizures, pawing at the mouth (indicates nausea).

Adrenal Disease - The best treatment is surgery or cryosurgery (where the tumor is frozen and removed). Lupron will cover clinical signs but does not treat the tumor. Do not use Lysodron as it may encourage the growth of metastatic tumors

Watch for: the typical signs and symptoms, e.g. hair loss about the tail and bottom, females who look like they are in heat (with swelling under the tail) and males that appear to have trouble urinating. Many ferrets with Adrenal tumors do not show typical signs or symptoms. Where there is a question about the diagnosis it is best to test for estrogen and pre-estrogen levels, as this is 95% diagnostic, rather than for cortisol levels as previously thought.

Aleutians Disease - This is almost 100% fatal and there is no vaccine. It is infectious and on the rise. Signs and symptoms are vague and AD is frequently misdiagnosed. The shelter was advised to begin testing for it. We have found a test that can be done for $12 (12 time 50 ferrets = $600). We will begin testing the oldest, longest residents first.