Danielle Dixon <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >I was wondering if anyone could have any suggestions as to what could >be making my little boy cough. I'd run Oliver past a vet just to check him out. Ferrets often cough when they're eating -- they're really not well designed to eat kibble and can get a too-large piece in their throats. They cough to get it out. This is almost always NOT a problem for them. If your ferret coughs after drinking, it could be that your water bottle is not at the optimal height for him. Try raising it or lowering it, depending on whether he seems to strain up or down to drink from it. He could cough after running because he comes in contact with dust or something (are you sure this is coughing and not sneezing -- they seem very similar in ferrets!). If he seems to flop down a lot during play, then you're looking at something entirely different -- and a vet check is very important, as you could be looking at a heart problem. But if he plays normally, then that's not likely. As for smoking -- it really doesn't matter if you leave the windows open -- the tar from cigarettes gets on EVERYTHING. Ferrets are sensitive to cigarette smoke. (You can read about ferrets and cigarette smoke in Issue #31 of Modern Ferret.) It would be better for your ferret if you smoked outside. It would better for you if you quit. :o) You can read about how I quit (10 years ago, thankyouverymuch!) here: http://www.shefferman.com/mary/kickingit.html I hope the coughing turns out to be nothing serious. --Mary & the Fuzzies ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Mary & The Modern Ferrets Trixie, Koosh, & Gabby Read my blog -- http://www.modernferretblog.com/mary [Posted in FML issue 4052]