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Question
Hi, my ferret is 4-5 years of age and as far as I know has had only one cold in his life. He is fed ferret food but recently kitten food. He has been defecating more often but in really small quantities. His anus seems kind of swollen and discolored or almost purple. He lives in a cadge that i clean often, and walks around my room often.

Answer
Dear Howard:

EMERGENCY!!! Anytime a ferret starts pooping in smaller quantities, he is probably fighting a blockage and that means life and death!!  You MUST get him to a Vet ASAP for xrays to see where the blockage is and if it can go through by itself of if he needs surgery to get it through. In the meantime, give him Vaseline (he will lick if from your finger - as much as he will take - a couple teaspoons or more if he will take it) to help slide things through....although it's probably too late for that if he's having these symptoms. He has probably gotten ahold of something while walking around in your room that is stuck in his intestines.Something as simple as a rubberband can kill a ferret.  It's important that you keep your ferret's play room FERRETPROOFED at all times...and a quick check around before every play time.

THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH EMERGENCY  - PLEASE GET THIS FERRET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY!!!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers