From:
Barbara Carlson
Date: 2002-03-05 14:48:00 UTC
Subject: Re: respiratory problems
> Subject: Respiratory problems
>
> Hi. Thanks for the answers to my previous messages
> since, I think, January he's sneezing a lot (5 to 10 sneezes in a role)
> specially when he wakes up or when he is investigating the corners. This
> happens everyday. And also everyday he makes a noise that is very strange
> and I can't even describe it. it's like he's choking, a heavy breathing
> with his chest moving a lot. it sounds like a congestion. This happens a
> couple of times a day and it lasts five or six seconds everytime. I
> talked on the phone with my vet, but he said if there are no changes in
> his normal behaviour, is not something to worry about. But I'll take
> Ringo to the vet tomorrow anyway.
My ferret doesn't sneeze a lot, but the vet says he has asthma. He's 6-1/2
now and since he was 1 year old has had these LOUD wheezy attacks that
sound like a cat trying to clear it's throat of a furball only louder! It's
a horrible raspy noise that lasts for maybe 5-10 wheezes and stops. I've
had him checked at the vet, I check him every time, and he's just fine
before and after. He doesn't seem to have trouble breathing, just has these
loud wheezing episodes occasionally. It usually happens when he's sitting
in his cage or sleeping and doesn't seem to be actually related to
hairballs. Since he seems fine afterwards (if somewhat annoyed at being
woken up to wheeze), I have been reluctant to give him daily Benedryl
(which was suggested to me, too). He will go for months with no episodes,
then do it maybe once a day for a few days, then nothing for weeks.
--Barb--