Coughs that are persistent, bad, or unusual for the individual always
call for chest x-rays in ferrets, and in some cases of infection and
all cases of cardiomyopathy ultrasound should follow.
 
Most are due to cardiomyopathy, but ferrets can get pneumonia and show
almost no symptoms.  In fact, we had one, Meeteetse, for whom we made
an emergency appointment one day because she was having a few little
coughs -- very unlike her -- and she had held my big toe gently in her
mouth which was something she did only when she felt very ill.  Because
it was an emergency appointment we could not see out usual vet and her
chest sounded fine but we were so insistent that the vet took x-rays.
The next thing you know we heard our specialist being asked to come to
the back to see some x-rays.  We figured "cardiomyopathy" but instead
Meeteetse had severe pneumonia and pleurisy despite having almost no
symptoms.  She was immediately started on meds including 2 antibiotics.
She survived.
 
When ferrets get cardiomyopathy it is usually dilative/hyperplastic, but
sometimes it is hypertrophic which is harder to find.  An ultrasound can
find that, though, and it is needed for any cardiomyopathy case, anyway,
to treat most effectively because it gives the info needed for the best
use of meds.  There are a number of really excellent medications these
days for heart problems in ferrets.  one of the best ways for learning
about this is
http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/cardiomyopathy.txt
followed by more recent posts on the topic in
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
 
A more rare heart problem that also can cause coughing is A/V Heart Node
Block which is typically caused by insulinoma when it is a bad case.
THIS IS RARE.  A Level One Heart Block doesn't matter.  A Level 2 can be
treated indefinitely and should be treated.  A Level 2 Sinus should be
treated but will become Level 3 eventually.  A Level 3 should treated but
will become fatal usually in a matter of just months to maybe about a
year if all goes well, esp.  if the insulinoma ca also be controlled.
To learn about this:
http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/heartblock.txt
followed by more recent posts in the same achives.
 
Some other causes of coughs which can be encountered in ferrets include
upper respiratory infections or growths, lung malignancies (not too
common but IF this ferret is around secondary smoke all the time it
becomes a consideration), allergies including asthma, influenza (but
not a "cold"), sinus infection (but not a "cold"), or even noises being
mistaken for a cough such as glatching from a furball or maybe not
understanding the noise of MegaE.  (With MegaE also look for reflux
from the esophagus.) If the air is as polluted around you as it is here
recently that could do it.  Is there an air- quality warning?  Sometimes
extreme dryness alone can induce a cough.
 
BTW, if Meeteetse sounds familiar she was named after the first BFF
site because as a kit her happy face was so like the one of one of the
early photographed BFF kits, and Meeteetse "appeared" something like 4
times on NPR because throughout her life she loved the voice of Richard
Harris -- to the point where she would *have* to kiss the speakers.  He
always held her heart and gave her joy.
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 4952]