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Treatment

Treatment varies depending on the severity of the case and the specific cause. If respiratory distress is evident, oxygen treatment should be administered. Cage rest may also be necessary to ensure the ferret stays still and does not worsen respiratory distress. Your ferret should not be allowed to lay on one side for more than two hours at a time.

Further treatment depends on the cause. For example, foreign bodies blocking the airway must be removed -- most likely via airway suction. Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy may also be necessary to treat for related shock or dehydration. Because secondary infection is a common development of aspiration pneumonia, antibiotics may be recommended as well.

Living and Management

After initial treatment, the ferret should be monitored for symptoms. Be sure to administer any prescribed medications regularly and follow a veterinarian’s instructions throughout recovery.

Prevention

There are a number of causes that can lead to aspiration pneumonia, thus it is difficult to pinpoint effective preventative measures. One way to help prevent aspiration pneumonia is to limit the ferret’s access to foreign bodies that may be inhaled.