sneezing ferrett

Question
My sister got a ferrett for Christmas, and he is about 6 or 7 months old now. He has been neutered and descented. Well she moved out about 6 weeks ago, right after she got him really, and couldn't take him. Yesterday he started sneezing like crazy and seems to be having to breathe out of his mouth some. Still eating and drinking as of last night. There is not a ferret vet around here for over 100 miles and the roads are icy where I live today and will be for a few days, so I am at a loss. I myself have had a bad cold for a couple weeks and he is acting almost exactly like me. I have never had one before, and just inherited this one, but he has wiggled himself into our lives!!

Answer
Hello Shannon!  They are great little guys aren't they?  More trouble than a ton of monkeys that will always keep you laughing.

It sounds like your little guy might have caught your cold!  Ferrets can certainly get certain colds from humans, although this is a one way process and he will not be able to transmit it back to you.  If this is the case, you may notice that he is not as playful as usual, may have a decreased appetite/water consumption and possibly a fever and sneezing/coughing.

Just as in human, colds will usually pass on their own after a week or so.  It is important that you monitor him, since in ferrets, colds are often more severe than their human counterpart.  Keep an eye on his food bowl and water dish to make sure he is eating.  This is important since ferrets can loose body weight quickly, and usually eat every 4-6 hours.  Also, make sure he is drinking.  Check his gums to see if they are nice and pink and not tacky to the touch, as this would be a sign of dehydration, and you might need to syringe feed him water.  

It might be a good idea to purchase a rectal thermometer and some KY jelly from a pharmacy so you can take his temperature.  Anything above 103 degrees is a fever, although it is not considered severe until the high 104-105 range.  If his fever is this high, he should be seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Good luck with your new little guy!  Colds should pass in their due course, and he will likely be not as playful as his spunky self for a bit.  If you notice he is getting worse, has spiked a high fever, or has no appetite/water consumption you should bring him to the vet.  He might need a run of antibiotics and fluids to help him get over the cold.

Just for reference, here is a great website for new ferret owners:
         
http://www.thechipster.com/fert-man.html

It has plenty of information on basic health, feeding, ailments, etc.

Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with, or if you have any other specific questions.  Please keep me posted as to how this turns out for you.  

-Cindy P.