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Coughing is fairly common among ferrets, or at least as much as it is in other animals. Formally defined as forceful exhalations of air through the glottis or mouth and throat, a cough may be brought on by a variety of factors, either automatic or inspired.

Symptoms and Types

• Sneezing
• Scratchy and/or irritable esophagus
• Clearing of breathing passage (sometimes with mucous or blood, which may indicate a coexisting condition that requires immediate attention)

Causes

The causes for cough in ferrets are varied. Often, upper respiratory tract disorders or viral infections such as the flu are to blame. Other causes may include:

• Sinusitis
• Rhinitis
• Inflammation of the tracheal pipe
• Infections of the ear, nose, and throat
• Pulmonary swelling, tumors, or pneumonia
• Environmental factors (i.e., unhygienic conditions that can contribute to nasal and oral irritation)

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will first want to rule out other serious conditions to help prevent a resurgence of a more virulent strain of disease following minor treatment. To achieve this, he or she will look for other diagnostic features, including the prolonged health of the animal, its nocturnal or sleeping habits, and the patterns and characteristic of behavior -- all of which may provide some clues as to the causes of the ferret’s primary symptoms.

Diagnostic exams such as X-rays and ultrasounds can also help identify cardiovascular disease(s) or disorders of the nasal, sinus, and lower respiratory tract.