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Starting Member
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Last Login: 1/21/2008 7:22:51 AM
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My ferrets start to sneeze and can't stop. Hitting their heads on the bottom of the cage and on the levels too. What can i do to help them?
little annae[ferret],whitey[ferret],ozzy[ferret], casey [ferret](forever with love old man[ferret],powdered demon[ferret], weasel [ferret]to haven they have gone)
This is my ferret famliy.
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New Member
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Last Login: 4/27/2008 5:10:12 PM
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| Did you change litter?, use a different laundry soap on their hammies, blankies?, Could they have gotten into regular kitty litter that is loaded with perfume?, Does anyone in your household have a cold? Alot of times, changing litter to one that has a perfume scent could cause their little noses an allergic reaction to the perfume. I have to use one brand of bedding material for Taz because he is allergic to Carefresh. Most clumping kitty litter has a perfume added to help keep kitties messes down and this could cause a sneeze factor. If you are using cedar or pine wood chips this actually bad for ferrets and is not recommended for use with them. Cedar and pine wood chips can cause respitatory failure. Last but not least if anyone in your house has a cold it is possible to spread the cold to the ferrets and vice versa. Strange but true, if the ferrets catch a cold you can catch the cold from the ferret. Most of the time within 24 -48 hours the cold is done with, so unless you see nasal discharge, just make sure they are eating and drinking and provide support care. If there is nasal discharge, it is recommended you phone a vet as this could be the sign of an upper respiratory infection. hope this helps
Proud Parents to Sarah, Jasimin, Casper, Taz, Patch, Beuregards, Demon, Scooter, Stripe, Ivan, Calvin, Hobbs, Nikita, Norma, Eistein Junior, Coco, Bonnie, Clyde, Stinker, Grace, China (Forever Toby- Rainbow Bridge Jul 07, Forever Ben Dec 07)
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New Member
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Last Login: 2/23/2008 9:33:17 PM
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Great advice from Fuzzie23! I would like to add that if you are using any cleaning sprays on the cage that it can cause sneezing. I clean the bottom of the cage every week and once every couple weeks the cage itself in the tub. I use hot water and a little dish soap to clean the cage. I rinse everything very well. Many years ago with my first ferret I thought that I could use a hot cloth and wipe the cage down with Lysol. He was very irritated and sneezed a lot after that. So I started cleaning in the way I told you above. No problems after that. The other two times I've had ferret sneezing problems was becasue I used cat litter once because the store was out of the organic litter I normaly bought and the other time was because one of my ferrets had caught a cold.
 - LittleFuzzPhoebie the Ferret says, "Dance The Day Away!"
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 11/11/2008 6:50:17 PM
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Ferrets always have their noses on the ground sniffing. Some times a hair or dust can get in the nose and that can cause sneezing. Some litters that are not meant for ferrets can cause sneezing if it has particles coming off of it. Health problems with their lungs and stuff could be an option too. If the ferrets are all sneezing it makes more sense that there is something in or around the cage that can cause sneezing. I suggest cleaning the area thoroughly and cleaning the cage thoroughly. If the sneezing continues bring them too their vet. 
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/11/2008 6:50:17 PM
Posts: 8,
Visits: 6
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| Ferrets always have their noses on the ground sniffing. Some times a hair or dust can get in the nose and that can cause sneezing. Some bedding/waste litter that are not meant for ferrets can cause sneezing if it has particles coming off of it. Health problems with their lungs and stuff could be an option too. If the ferrets are all sneezing it makes more sense that there is something in or around the cage that can cause sneezing. I suggest cleaning the area thoroughly and cleaning the cage thoroughly. If the sneezing continues bring them too their vet.
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 12/30/2008 7:03:37 AM
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| Fuzzie23's advice is great. Something else to look at with the litter is never use clay litter like the kind used for cats. Clay litter irritates the respiratory tract and can be inhaled and harden. This is what it is made to do. A cost efficient non-irritating litter I have found to use is pelleted equine bedding. It's approimately $6.50 for a 40lb. bag. Borax, like you get in the detergent isle, can be sprinkled in for odor control. Use small amount. If your ferret likes to tunnel in their litter do not use borax.
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