My ferret has cold symptoms. When should I take them to the vet?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hello. Thank you for your question. I am sorry Riki is not feeling well however, you cannot give over the counter cold medicine to ferrets. Please do not do that. If he is sick you need to take him to a vet for an exam. If he has an upper respiratory infection he will likely need antibiotics and not cold medicine. Here is a link to respiratory disease in ferrets: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=11+2071&aid=565 I hope this helps. Best wishes to you and Riki. Dr. Amber

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.

Poor Cynthia! Certain viral infections such as distemper and flu, bacterial infections, foreign bodies and upper respiratory infections can cause the signs you are describing. If you think that Cynthia is having trouble breathing, she should be seen by a vet immediately. The conditions above can be treated with supportive care and/or antibiotics depending on the cause. I hope this helps and that Cynthia feels better soon!