Ferret Cough

Question
QUESTION: My ferret Oliver is almost a year old now. I got him in August and he was born March. Since I've had him, on various occasions (not super often) he's had a bit of a coughing/hacking sound. Like something was stuck in his throat. I've heard they shed (I'm a first time ferret owner), I'm just worried it could be something bigger then shedding. He doesn't act sick, but he is grooming a lot more. He's actually doing it right now, while he's grooming himself. He sneezes when doing it occasionally too. I'm really hoping he's just shedding. He's my little sweetheart, and my heart will break if there is something wrong with him. Am I just worrying about nothing? Is this normal ferret stuff and I'm just new to the ferret world? Please help, anything will be good!

PS In answer to the living space: He has a cage, but I allow him to run around my room when I'm not home. When I am home, I let him come out into the apartment, but only when I can watch him.


ANSWER: Does he only cough when grooming or does he cough all the time?

Some ferrets will cough or sneeze when they groom themselves but that can be reduced by frequent brushings to remove the loose hairs and will prevent hairballs.

If it is a persistent cough then it could be something more serious that only a vet would be able to diagnose.

Ferrets often don't act sick until they are too sick to hide an illness they are very good at hiding their illnesses.

Is the room he runs around in while you are not home completely ferret proofed? Ferrets are notorious of consuming inedible things.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Usually when he just grooms himself! Also I give him Marshall Ferret Chews, and he makes this funny sound too, but it seems more of an excited sound. My friends ferret says hers does the same thing. It's not completely ferret proofed but there is hardly anything he can really ingest, I'll look around though today. I'm just so worried something will be wrong with him! :/ Also, what kind of brush should I get to brush him with?

Answer
The sound he makes while chewing his chew is more than likely a happy sound ferrets make. My ferrets will make all sorts of sounds when chewing on their treats.

I would completely ferret proof before giving freedom ferrets will ingest almost anything they can fit into their mouths mostly out of curiosity. If anything looks like it could be torn off and swallowed it needs to be put away or blocked out of the ferrets reach.

If the coughing persists I would take him to the vet things can go downhill pretty quick with ferrets.  

I use a ferret brush or a soft cat brush to brush my ferrets it usually gets most of the loose hairs off of them.