cough

Question
My 6 month old ferret has an intermitent hacking cough, diminished appetite and little interest in playing--sleeps a lot.Been to vet 4X--had 2 throat cultures (one general, 1 for mycoplasma) both negative, a soft tissue xray of throat, lungs, heart,and next has an ultrasound scheduled for possible heart worms. He has been sick like this for 2 months. Anything you think we might be missing?

Answer
Brenda,

It seems like you are doing the right diagnostics to figure out what is wrong with your little guy.  I do have a question for you.  When were his vaccinations? There might be a link to his illness.  

Heart worm is a possibility, since ferrets are extremely susceptible to it.  However, it is not very common since most ferrets are kept indoor and away from mosquitoes.  The ultrasound would be able to rule out heartworm as a possibility.

Was there any signs of pneumonia on the x-ray?  My ferret had a similar thing happen about a year ago.  She started with a hacking cough about a week after her vet visit (distemper vaccination).  This continued for more than a week, and I began to become concerned.  The vet did a tracheal wash (culture).  It came back negative.  The blood work was normal, but she was lethargic and loosing weight.  Her x-ray showed mild pneumonia in one lung lobe.  We treated her for the pneumonia with antibiotics (Baytril/TMS)and nebulization.  Luckily with time she improved.  

About a month later, when she was back to her normal self, the vet gave the rabies vaccine.  As you know, it is risky to give ferrets both distemper AND rabies vaccines at the same time.. it is always a good idea to space it out by 2-3 weeks (and remember, never vaccinate a sick animal!)  Once vaccinated, the same thing happened.   A week later, a hacking cough, lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. I repeated x-rays and again found mild pneumonia.. but in a different lung lobe.  It had the vet stumped.  Again we treated with antibiotics and nebulization, and again she improved. But this time it was more of a struggle.   

The vet had no idea why this occurred, but it seems linked to the vaccinations.  I inquired with an immunologist, and he knew exactly the culprit... A delayed hypersensitivity reaction.  It causes a constriction of the bronchial passages in the lung, literally sealing them off.  This causes the pneumonia/coughing.  Since it occurred with both the rabies AND distemper vaccines (made by the same company) he guessed that the preservative was the culprit. His theory is my ferret developed a delayed hypersensitivity reaction (which takes days to a week or so) to something in the vaccine.  It is an allergic response, only occurs much later (days-a week).  There is not much more to do but discontinue her vaccinations in the future.  It is too risky to keep giving them.  

A less likely cause is kennel cough (canine bordatella).  however, it should appear in a tracheal wash.  That is why I think kennel cough is a less likely cause.

Have you been treating with any medication?  it would be a good idea to start some antibiotics, even with a negative tracheal wash. also check to see if your ferrets illness seems to coincide with any vaccines. He might be experiencing a delayed hypersensitivity reaction.  

Please keep me posted with what you find.  I hope for the best.

-Cindy P.