From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-09-19 15:33:47 UTC
Subject: Re: coughing
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <p05111705b9af9bf51a81@[10.0.1.15]>
Yes, these ferrets should see a vet. The vets have many tools at
their disposal: thermometers, stethoscopes, aids for visual
examination, chest x-rays, etc. When only one is coughing then a
wider range of causes is considered, but with 3 doing it infectious
disease is most likely and it is important then to make sure that it
is not causing worse complications like pneumonia if a bad cough such
as you describe is present.
Influenza season has begun, and ferrets do get this. Sometimes
humans don't even know that they have it or have brought it home
because a mild case for us feels like a cold and during ragweed
season many of us aren't going to notice a touch of extra
inflammation. Ferrets do get influenza, though, and like humans they
sometimes get secondary infections which can prove very dangerous.
It may be that the cause is a self-limiting but loud one that is
making them temporarily miserable, but since they can have serious
lung disease without having many symptoms it's best to be safe. We
had an elderly one with pneumonia and plurosy who had just a small on
and off cough for part of a day. The vet couldn't hear anything but
did an x-ray because we said that behavior was very uncharacteristic.
Doing that x-ray allowed for the level of care which saved her life.
Personally, we tend to jump when they are coughing; if it's a false
alarm that's at least a relief.