To Chris and Scooter, who occasionally gag's explosively:
 
        Chris - It is difficult to say what is causing Scooter to gag.  My
ferrets occasionally give a tremendous couple of coughs, followed by a gagging
motion, very similar to what you see in cats with hairballs.  For these animals,
I give daily Laxatone, which seems to help.
 
        If there is a swelling in the throat which has not responded to
antibiotics, I would suggest either a fine needle aspirate or a biopsy.
Swellings that do not respond to antibiotics should be further investigated.  A
swelling that is pressing on the trachea will elicit a chronic cough.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1072]