Does ferrets make a sound like a whispered "heeh" when they cough? Ramie has been a little less playful / more sleepy than usual. Last nite he was making the "heeh" sound lying in his hammock, and seemed uncomfortable; this a.m. too. I thought it was gagging, like when cats try to get rid of a hairball. Brought him to vet this a.m., and he found slightly swollen lymph nodes in armpits and groins & maybe throat that hadnt been that way in early Sept when we were in. The ferret wouldn't "heeh" for him, of course, but he said his guess was that Rame had been coughing. Said he guessed he had a little something viral, which would explain the lymph nodes, and that it could be like tonsilitis (except he wasnt sure if ferrets have tonsils...) The ferret is still eating (and pooping) heartily and is playful, tho at shorter intervals than usual. Some of us humans *were* fighting a flu or cold a week or so ago, altho we never really succombed to it... The doc recommended giving it some time to see if it runs its course, as a cold/flu (which is it ferrets get from us?) would, but to bring him right back if he starts getting worse. In that case, we could treat with antibiotics, anesthetize and look at his throat, aspirate lymph glands etc. Any responses to this advice? -------- I was speaking on the phone to a friend who lives in California. She has never even seen a ferret. She runs a bookstore, and says their best selling calendar by far is a ferret calendar! Isnt that cool? Isnt there a ferret calendar whose proceeds are going toward the effort to legalize? Hope that's it! -------- Hope you are all well and that your ferreties are all well and, as always, i REALLY appreciate your advice. ---shen ================ Justice - not revenge [Posted in FML issue 3582]