They get influenza. They get bacterial infections which can be primary or secondary to other infections. They get bacterial sinus infections. They get pneumonia. They get pleurisy. It is important to know the difference and respond correctly because these are more serious than colds, and all of the above causes except influenza respond to the correct use of antibiotics if the right ones are used for long enough on the correct schedules starting early enough. (That is one of the basics of ferret health care.) See these veterinary pathologist posts to get started: http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG10945 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG9530 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG4054 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG4053 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG2137 -- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts) Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them: Ferret Health List http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ AFIP Ferret Pathology http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html Miamiferrets http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ International Ferret Congress Critical References http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML 5401]