cold?

Question
The ferrets I am speaking of are healthy and one is one and the other is 4 months. At first the older one today looked as if she had  runny nose and watery eyes. The discharge was white. A little later her symptoms were gone but then I went to go look at the other one and she had the same symptoms. I was wondering if they had a spreadable cold because our other ferret hasn't shown symptoms but he has been away from them almost the whole day. The ones I am talking about don't seem lethargic or anything just those symptoms I was talking about.

Answer
Hi again, Madeline!

Officially, ferrets can't get the cold virus from us, but they can contract the flu virus. Although, if someone in your house has had a cold of the flu, your kids probably caught it! I would watch them for a couple days and make sure they are all still eating, but it is just like when we get the flu. They will probably be lethargic and generally "blah" for a few days, and if they don't bounce back after a few days, or if their habits change (i.e., eating, drinking, bathroom), then they should have a check up, just to make sure, but ferrets, especially younger ferrets, tend to get over it quite quickly. Make sure they have clean, warm bedding to snuggle down into (sweatshirts, blankets, etc.). I would say that if you're worried about it spreading to your third ferret, that you keep them separated until the other two get over what they have.

I hope this helps, and if you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews

P.S.

I you see them stop eating, there might be something you can do at home. They might stop eating because they can't smell their food, so they don't know it's food. You can take a bowl of hot (not too hot!) water and dissolve a teaspoon of salt into it. Then grab a towel or washcloth, or paper towel and dip it into the salt water. Scruff your ferret and put it over their mouth and nose, making sure they have to breathe in the air coming off the  cloth. (Make sure to squeeze much of the excess water off so they don't aspirate it). This will dry up the mucus and make it easier for them to breath and smell their food. Our kids had little colds this year, and I did this for them a few times a day for a couple days and they perked right up! Do that a couple times a day for at least four to five minutes, longer if possible! Let me know if you have any questions.