'Ferret sneezing?'

citronkid from bird nation (Contact Member) -

A friend of mine has a ferret that is sneezing it's little head off. I had heard something about them being able to catch colds and stuff but I didn't think it really happened. Has anyone had a ferret get sick like that?

Comment #1 tokay from tokay village (Contact Member) -

I have heard of it happening before actually it is more common than you think. When I helped my uncle out at his pet store we would sometimes get a ferret who had a "cold". The poor ferret would have symptoms like: sneezing, running nose, and sleep all the time. Our vet gave us amoxycilian and it cleared it up.

Comment #2 Bizzy from Hamster Wheel (Contact Member) -

Yikes! That's not any fun for the ferret. Tortoiseshell calicos are prone to respiratory infections and that's what I thought of with your ferret. Also, anything will make a ferret sneeze.

• Respiratory Infections

Comment #3 samantha (70.108.5.3) -

actulay im an owner of 2 ferrets and they do get cold we ahve a 2 year old girl she a resuced one and we ahd here for almost a year then we got my son ralph and we got him at a pet store he snezzed once in the store i thought nothing of it and then we got him home and he snezzed so much he flip him slef over it cost us a lot of moneybut he is now fixing to be 1 years old is a happy healthy little boy they do get sick but they can not pass it to human many people fear that but if you are sick do not handle them cause they can get sick and it cheaper in the long run to get you well instead of them. one big word of advise for any one who owens them or wanting to make sure you learn them and there moods cause they can not tell you when there sick so you have to watch them that and love them alot and they will love you for it

Comment #4 Heidi (209.184.189.28) -

my ferret get cold and what do i do about that

you help me with her name is mae

she is my best friend and i love her too

she is good pet.

thank you

heidi branch

Comment #5 Apple from US (Contact Member) -

Heidi (209.184.189.28):

If your ferret is sneezing and something is coming out, then you should see a vet. Otherwise, its not a big deal. My ferret sneezes often but the vet is not worried since it could be dust or dirt. Ferrets walk around with their noses to the ground sniffing everything! They just need to clean out their systems.

samantha (70.108.5.3):

I agree. Ferrets can get sick from people, so it is smart to stay away when you are sick. However you cannot catch anything from a ferret. Ferrets have sensitive respiratory systems, this is why it is recommened to use paper pellets or newspaper in their litter box, anything dust free. Kitty litter and other types of pellets become dusty and this can easily cause problems. If your ferret is coughing, take him to the vet.

citronkid from bird nation:

Unless the ferret is sneezing up something, it is probably no big deal. My ferret will sometimes sneeze 10 times in a row, I check on him and he is all wrapped up in a towl. If you are worried still, call your vet and let him know.

Comment #6 worryvirgo (67.165.87.129) -

I noticed my new pet virgo has been sneezing lately. I only had him for 2 months and wasn't even sneeze till a couple days ago with clear wet nose just like human when having flu. Could that be a normal cold for ferret? How will I know He'll need be seen by vet? With all your helps or hint would be greatly apprecation!

Comment #7 Apple from US (Contact Member) -

worryvirgo (67.165.87.129):

You shouldn't need to go to a vet for sneezing unless it is colored or bloody. Or if other symptoms are combined with this. Such as lethargy (beyond normal ferret sleepyness), lack of eating or drinking, diarrhea, or green or yellow poop.

Chances are, he is just getting into dusty places! They use their nose to discover everything! So naturally, they will stick it in unclean places and need to sneeze it out. Don't worry unless its a color or bloody. Then hit up the vet ASAP. Still worried? Just call your vet, no need to make an appointment.

I've never actually seen a ferret sick with a cold. I assume it will go away with: plenty of rest (ferret already does that), keep him hydrated (watch how much water he intakes), and see that he is eating. He will be fine.

Comment #8 Barbara (74.235.196.144) -

My ferrets do not and have not been sick but they do sneeze when I am cleaning cages and dusting with no discharge. I know it seems severe when they keep doing it and hit their faces but I do believe it's just cleaning out their noses just like we do.

Comment #9 Nick (78.144.181.124) -

Well, i have 2 ferrets, 1 albino and 1 normal

The normal one is called Sophie.

Every now and then, she has a sneezing fit.

she sometimes has about 10 sneezing fits in like 5 mins.

Im a bit worried, BUT we did buy new littr and straw that we havnt used before. [new type of make]

could this be the problem? if Not then please help? D;

Comment #10 Mike (24.34.206.117) -

My two ferrets have been sneezing like crazy the past couple of weeks, but this has coincided with us brining in a large grass plan from the outside since it's getting cold and switching to a new bedding.

So the plant has gone and the bedding is next!

They might be cold too as it's fall in Massachusetts, so we've moved the cage to a warmer room.

Hope that helps if anyone is having similar problems.

Comment #11 Jordan (24.220.131.178) -

My ferret, miko, caught a cold from me when he was only about 6 months old. He was sneezing like crazy, he kept going on sneezing fits and would run away from me. The closest vet is almost 2 hours away, so I went to the local farm-supply store where they informed me about terramycin, which is an antibiotic that is effective on anything from bees to cows. I gave him an eighth of a teaspoon mixed in 2 cups of water for a few days and his cold dissappeared! He also loved the taste of it, I think there is electrolytes in it which makes it kind of sweet. I keep it on hand at all times, and it worked on my parent's cat when she had an eye infection. They also gave it to her for urinary tract infections, which she was prone to.

Comment #12 Renae (124.150.121.236) -

Our albino buck has had a severe cold for afew years now, he's seen a vet but unfortunately, could not help.

So we treated him like a human and gave him 1 teaspoon of cough serum mixed with 1/2 a cup of milk.

Showing some good results.

Comment #13 dave (69.116.155.158) -

my ferret is 8 months old i got her at a pet shop it is my first oet and im not sure what 2 do she looks fine but i had her 4 four days and shes sneezing and weeving... i dont know if 2 less bedding is a problem does it cause 2 much dust please let me kno what i should do its been 2 days also she diggs in her bedding i d k please help ...

Comment #14 Sora (65.188.159.43) -

um all animals can sneeze 0.o

horses, dogs, cats even birds.....

you really dont know much about animals do you?

Comment #15 Roger G from Kelowna BC (Contact Member) -

Could be some dust up his nose. If using wood chips like cedar or pine, this could pose a problem and should be discarded. If only short sneezing fits, then probably not a problem, but if it continues beyond what you think would be normal, then see a vet.

todayspet.blogspot.com has good info on ferret healthcare and good links to other sites where you can check on care issues.

Comment #16 Heather (98.125.0.157) -

I am a registered vet tech. Ferrets can get colds as well as influenza from humans. But for those of you who says that you can not catch it from the ferrets, you need to know that that is not true. They CAN give you colds and the flu as well. It is the same exact virus we are susceptible to.

Ferrets are also susceptible to canine distemper (which can be airborne and carried in on your clothes), rabies and heartworm. You can protect your ferrets from these diseases very easily through vaccines and heartworm preventative.

Comment #17 Eli (173.80.87.1) -

my son just got a ferret and he lives wk to wk between me and his dad. Ferret is here with mom and he has been sneezing alot. I'm concerned, maybe cold or what? So should we take to vet? But we have air conditioning in that room and maybe it's to cold?

Please respond cause I'm a parent with out son being here on a weekly basis. He's only here every other week.

thank u

Comment #18 samantha (74.36.163.15) -

my ferret duke has been sneezing alot lately but he is eating and drinking normally but he seems a little sleepier lately does that happen when the season changes or should i take him to the vet?

Comment #19 Heather (207.6.166.40) -

"heatherlovesbandit"

My ferret, Bandit, is the love of my life. He has loud sneezing fits. But there's something else. I don't know if it's because he ate something wrong or something he shouldn't have, but I found yellow-greeny mushy stuff in the place behind the door where he usually does his buisness. I am really worried. I love him so much. I'd die if he did. <3 iloveyoumuffin.

SOS!

Heather

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