Message Number: YG10945 | New FHL Archives Search
From: dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-02-10 14:21:00 UTC
Subject: Re: is he sick???

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "sweet28red" <sweet28red@y...> wrote:
> I have a year old ferret that our family took in with his buddy
too.
> They are the sweetest things. The male is Bubba and the female is
> Oscar. Anyway, Bubba when I took him to the vet for their shots
> weighed a whopping 2lbs7oz. Well, he started sneezing and
coughing,
> so the vet put him on antibiotics plus gave him a shot. Oscar got
> the cold so I got her taken care of too. Then about 2 weeks later
> Bubba started almost a choking cough type sound. Took him back to
> the vet said he was running a slight temp and his weight was down
to
> 2lbs.4oz. It may not seem like much but ounces I think count a lot
> for these little guys. He is still playing, running, and eating
like
> normal just doesn't seem well. The vet gave him another shot and
put
> him on Clavomox this time. He has quit the choking sound but he
> still isn't putting the weight back on. Should I be worried or
just
> give it a little more time and see what happens?

Let's give it a bit more time. THey may have contracted influenze
(ferrets don't get colds) which may account for the coughing and
sneezing. The fac that he is playing and running and eating like
normal is a good sign - but continue to wathc carefully.

About the weight loss - it very well could also be, judging from the
care that they had received prior to coming to live with you, that he
was actually overweight from lack of exercise, and he is returning to
his normal weight. 2lbs 4 oz is still a very healthy weight for a
ferret....

With kindest regards,

Bruce Williams, dVM