My ferret is coughing and has very stinky poop. What's wrong?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Freddy has been unwell. Coughing may be a sign of an upper respiratory infection (e.g. a cold), or a hair ball, or heart disease. Coughing can also be mistaken with wretching, or the attempt to vomit. In this case the cause may be related to a gastrointestinal infection, or foreign body ingestion. Stinkier stools may also be related to a gastrointestinal issue.

I would recommend taking Freddy to a vet, who will be able to fully diagnose his condition by performing a thorough physical exam. They can take a good listen to his lungs to check for pneumonia, and palpate his stomach to check for pain or evidence of hair ball or foreign body. They may also recommend checking a fecal sample to test for intestinal parasites.

I hope this helps, and that Freddy is feeling better soon!