My ferret has a cold. Should I give him children's cold medicine?

Ferrets do get upper respiratory infections or colds just like us. Usually they get better with rest and no treatment is necessary. If the eyes or nose get green or yellow discharge or they stop eating they may have a secondary bacterial infection and would need an exam to confirm the diagnosis and antibiotics. Please do not give human medication. Good luck.

There are more than one disease in ferret that could be categorised as "cold" most of them are viral or bacterial diseases, some of them can be fatal, you need to take your ferret to the vet ASAP in order to get checked and treated.

Ferrets occasionally suffer from colds and flu quite similar to humans, they will often sneeze and be lethargic when that happens. when a ferret has a fever he will usually stay still, sleep a lot and won't eat much. in order to get him better you will need to take him to the vet as he he may need to take medications to get better.

If they are sick, it would be best to wait until they recover before bathing them. The stress could make their illness worse. What you can do is use a pet wipe or plain, unscented baby wipe to "spot clean" them.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a gengivostomatitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ferrets are very susceptible to the flu, which they can get from humans and spread to each other. In some cases, infection can be life threatening. I recommend separating Cheech from his companion immediately and having him seen by a vet. You should wear a disposable mask and gloves when handling your ferrets until you recover. Your vet can stabilize him if necessary, and prescribe the appropriate medication to keep him comfortable. I hope all is well!

Thanks for reaching out about Cocoa. Ferrets are susceptible to influenza so monitor her health for now. If becomes ill, a veterinary visit early in the process is more likely to respond to therapy. You could always purchase a thermometer and take her temperature. If concerned, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.