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Post by tsslilsis on Sept 23, 2008 10:40:14 GMT -5
Okay you'd think I'd already know about hairballs but Weezer and Lillian have Never been the shedding type. Of course, Ravi is making room for his winter coat and then there is the factor of getting him onto raw from a bad diet.. So he's a shed ball right now. He started dry heaving yesterday evening, we thought maybe he was sick but his nose isn't snotty, gums and nose look good, he's not sneezing at all and he is eating and drinking good. He did it a couple more times this morning, and when it happens it is in spats that last about a minute, not just one cough. I did some research and we are 99.99% certain that it is hairballs. But what do we do for it? We gave him some vaseline, but I know its not good to give all the time so what can we do for him until the shedding is stopped? We hadn't given him a bath since we got him so we gave him an ACV bath (he had A flea), and gave him a good 30 minute combing.. He shed plenty of under coat. He didn't start coughing til Yesterday after play time, and I know when he came back to us to be put up he had some loose fur in his whiskers (it was dog fur, we do vaccuum but it came from under a table that has a tight space) so I figure maybe he got some loose fur on himself and when he goomed himself he ingested some?  I love the booger but I just need to know what to do. -~Ketlin |
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 23, 2008 11:06:12 GMT -5
Do you know if hes passing any stool at all? If not, get your little one to the vet! If so, is it thin/skinny? Vaseline/laxatone may help pass the hairball, but it's risky waiting to see if this works. Ferrets can go down hill very quickly, so a trip to the vet is the most conservative option.
Also, if this is a hairball, feeding can make things worse. A lot of times a good ferret vet can feel a hairball and get a better understanding of size and location of the hairballwhich may be able to be passed with the vaseline.
Coughing during playtime can also indicate heart- and or lung-related issues, which may or may not be the primary issue.
-jennifer
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Post by tsslilsis on Sept 23, 2008 11:23:42 GMT -5
He is pooping great. They are nice, full poops. No little stringy ones. No puking, and he has gained weight in the 6 days he has been here (3-4 ounces, he is 2lbs 12oz now) so its obvious that the food is going through him good.
He does not cough during play time, or when he is being hyperactive. He just randomly coughs while sitting in his cage. The good news is he hasn't had any coughs for awhile.
-~Ketlin
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 23, 2008 12:35:40 GMT -5
It doesn't sound like an obstruction - he may have some of that fine, fuzzy undercoat stuck on his tongue -in the back of his throat. I've gotten fine fuzzy fur stuck on the back of my tongue before - it drives you crazt be.
Keep giving a little a laxatone/vaseline to all your kids daily right now since your one guy is blowing fur everywhere.
Keep an eye on your lirttle one and see if he's eating, drinking, peeing and pooping OK - and has normal activity level.
Hopefully, this was just some fur that will be swallowed, but keep up with the laxatone daily until the coughing is gone.
Obviously, if this persists or worsens, you may need to trip to the vet!
-jennifer
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Post by tsslilsis on Sept 24, 2008 13:13:45 GMT -5
We will deff. take him to the vet if it gets worse or continues!!
Today is a lot better. Before his cough spats would last 1-2 minutes, Today he has only had three and they are only 2-4 seconds long. Still eating, drinking and pooping!!! I think it'll be over before long.
-~Ketlin
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Post by tsslilsis on Sept 25, 2008 9:49:09 GMT -5
No coughing at all Today, not so far at least. He coughed a couple more times Yesterday but it was only three coughs at a time, not even half as bad as before.
-~Ketlin
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 25, 2008 18:52:00 GMT -5
Ferrets are great at inhalig dust and into their noses and throats or getting fur/dust on the back of the tongues. That stuff causes quite a bit of sneezing and coughing. A little ferretlax/vaseline during the shedding season is not a bad thing for all your ferts during heavy shedding. It looks you baby is just fine - I do understand the paranoia....all ferret owners get it  -jennifer |
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Post by tsslilsis on Sept 26, 2008 12:15:42 GMT -5
I think he coughed once Today, but that was probably a "I just need to cough" cough. The good thing is, we have plenty of vets around here that take ferrets.. And one is actually world renouned. I'm guessing he probably did have fur in the back of his mouth but since we brushed him out really good (and he was shedding) that the fur that was there is gone and he has no more to get in his mouth. Just a thought. We will continue to keep all of the babies brushed out really well so we don't have anymore scares.
-~Ketlin
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Post by tsslilsis on Sept 27, 2008 14:43:04 GMT -5
I'm really happy. It is after 3:30 PM now and he's not coughed at all Today. He got to romp around the kitchen for awhile last night and had a blast. He is still pooping good and eating good. The best part is that for the first time in the 9 days we've had him, his cage has been staying clean the past three because I tied the litter box to the cage so he is pooping in it instead of shovling it around the cage and pooping and peeing on the floor of the cage. Sis and I have both agreed this is probably the best he has ever lived. I cannot wait to see how he and Weezer get along as their personalities are so much alike.
-~Ketlin
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 28, 2008 10:17:09 GMT -5
This is GREAT NEWS!!!! It just didn't sound like hairballs. Sometimes when they shed , the fur falls out by the handful. Gently puking the fur can work better than a brush. You ferret may look naked for several days. but usually, the new fur starts coming in pretty quickly. I prefer to pluck the fur outside on a nice warm day making sure to keep the ferret out of the sun (sunburn would be terrible!!!) One time I had gotten some of that very fine undercoat in my mouth (from kissing the brats after plucking their shedding fur)...some of the fur got stuck way far back on my tongue/throat, and it was stuck there for a couple of days...I tried drinking, eating , etc. I was coughing and gagging - I was going crazy - It finally went away. I think that fur can kind of get stuck/embedded in the rough surface of the tongue - and ferrets have rougher tongues than people!!! Glad to hear everything is now OK  -jennifer |
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Post by tsslilsis on Sept 28, 2008 11:37:27 GMT -5
Ha, try kissing a neighbors store brand kibble fed cat. You'll get a mouth full (Neigbors cat thinks he's mine).
No coughing Today.. And GUESS WHAT. You hit the nail on the head. Last night during play time I scruffed him and opened his mouth to check out his teeth. I SAW the fur on the back of his tongue. So I really am assuming that just since we have been grooming him there hasn't been a chance for more fur to get back there. And I'm glad the nakey look isn't a bad thing, he's not bald in the least but up around his shoulders the fur is a tad thinner. I guess that is why.
I WILL try the plucking technique. That is what I use for my bigger dogs, and since I've had terriers and coon hounds who have rough coats I've done it many times. I think it makes more sence then brushing.
Thank you so much for your help and for giving me peace of mind!
-~Ketlin
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 28, 2008 11:52:27 GMT -5
No problem! I'm glad I could help you relax a bit. I've never had to deal with a hairball or blockage in any of any of my ferrets, but it would be extremely stressful. It's something I get paranoid about too  But, since you are seeing that fur get in the mouth, keep giving some laxatone, olive oil, etc. to ALL of your kids to help keep that fur moving through!!! -jennifer |
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