We lost our very first ferret at five months of age due to a blockage that
went undiagnosed by our vet.  I have no confidence that he could help us
with an emergency, so I'm very nervous about what happened this morning.
 
We now have four ferrets - all have always been healthy.  The youngest
(male) will be two in October.  When I let them out of the cage this
morning, I noticed he was keeping his mouth open and seemed uncomfortable.
I put him on the floor and he went to the water bowl like he wanted a
drink, but he wouldn't drink.  He did that three times.  I opened his mouth
to see if he had some food stuck in his teeth (he didn't).  As I'm checking
him over (not that I know what I'm looking for!), I noticed that he held
his mouth open several more times, and I caught him more than once acting
like he was just staring into space.  He didn't hack or cough or anything.
I did get him to lick some water off my finger, then he drank some water
from a shallow coaster that I held for him.  Every morning I give the
ferrets hairball remedy.  Brae ALWAYS licks this off my finger - never
bites or uses his teeth.  This morning, he wanted the hairball remedy, but
he used only his teeth--like he wouldn't be able to breath if he licked it.
Ten minutes later, he ate some food (Totally Ferret).  He seemed fine.
 
I'm really worried about what this could be.  If you have any idea what
this could be, and what signs to look for, please post to the list or
e-mail me directly ASAP.
 
Debbie and the fab foursome: Brae, Templeton, Sally and Phoebe
[Posted in FML issue 2765]