Ferret ECE Disease - contd.

ClinicalSigns
Clinical signs include anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and melena. The diarrhea can have a green color, a watery consistency, and be mucus-filled, birdseed-like, bloody, and even gritty. Severe dehydration can occur. There is no truly pathognomonic sign noted with this disease. Secondary ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, presumably Helicobacter, are seen in some ferrets with this disease. Ferrets with ulcers may paw at their mouth or even gag. On physical exam, ulcers can be seen on the hard palate.

Symptoms
Although this disease is known to ferret owners as "green diarrhea disease," diarrhea that is green is not specific to ECE since other diseases can have green colored diarrhea. Some ferrets will vomit, have diarrhea, and/or stop eating. Not every ferret will exhibit all signs of this disease.