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Treatment

Typically hospitalization is not required unless surgery is recommended, or if an exploratory scope of the nasal cavity or the sinuses is needed. Treating the symptoms and maintaining proper hydration, nutrition, and hygiene (keeping passages clean) are vital. In fact, many ferrets with nasal discharge become anorectic, so a high-calorie diet should be considered. Dietary supplements may also be added to increase caloric content to these foods, or your veterinarian may recommend warming the food to body temperature or offering via syringe.

Living and Management

Your veterinarian will want to observe nasal discharge and note changes in volume or character. He or she will also monitor the blood count, which should return to normal after successful treatment of infectious diseases. However, if discharge is due to canine distemper virus, clinical signs will progress and is typically fatal for the ferret.