My ferret's poop looks weird and is oddly shaped. What could be wrong?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! My first thought here is that Basil should likely be checked for intestinal parasites, especially things like coccidia. Irritable bowel disease and things like GI lymphoma are also possible but further down in the rule out list (list of potential diagnoses). These would be tested for if you fecal test for parasites were to come back completely normal. If you have changed her food, or she has developed a food allergy-this can also affect her stool. I always recommend that ferrets with diarrhea be seen by your vet-they can get very dehydrated very quickly. Make sure that she is drinking adequate amounts of fluids right now until you can get her in to be seen. I hope this helps!

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Thanks for reaching out regarding Rascal. As long as he is active, alert and eating, waiting until Monday should be fine. The fecal change can often be a reaction to dietary changes or stress. Pay attention to what Rascal might be chewing on when out of his cage. Even newly offered treats can change their digestion. Try to keep the diet as bland as possible, kibble only, no treats. If the problem persists, make an appointment with a veterinarian on Monday.

Very dark feces is always a quite concerning sign as it could be related to the presence of digested blood coming from the first tract of the gastrointestinal tract. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

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!

It is definitely something to keep a close eye on but I don't know if I would be overly concerned just yet unless he is showing other symptoms of illness (like vomiting, not eating, lethargy, etc). If all else is OK I suggest you start Bilbo on a probiotic to see if that will help. https://petvaluemart.com/digestive-enzymes/111-purina-fortiflora.html?search_query=fortiflora&results=1 Also, be sure you are feeding him a high quality diet like Marshalls or Zupreem. http://www.ferretdepot.com/food-!%60-nutrition/ferret-food/ And don't feed any treats unless they are labeled for ferrets: http://www.ferretdepot.com/toys-!%60-treats/ferret-treats/ If the mucus persists despite these changes then I suggest you get him to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps!

Poor Badger! His intestinal issues can be caused by viral or bacterial infections or intestinal parasites. While certain viral infections run their course, I recommend having him seen by a vet because you describe him as having lower energy levels and appetite. Badger may need some supportive care to help stabilize him. To speed up the diagnostic process, I recommend bringing a stool sample from Badger in a disposable container so your vet can check for intestinal parasites. I hope this helps and that Badger feels better soon!