Why are my ferrets gasping? How do I introduce new ferrets safely?

Without more of a history, it is difficult to determine if this is cause for concern. Monitor for lethargy, discharge from the eyes/nose/mouth, decreased appetite, fever, loose stool or weight loss. Since they are "new" to you, an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating ferrets would be recommended. At the very least, Wednesday will get a clean bill of health and you will get peace of mind.

Ferrets are social little animals, so they tend to get along with each other rather well. However, there are occasionally some anti-social ferrets that tend to fight with other ferrets. You also have to watch for bullying behavior, which can happen when a bigger ferret is around small ones. I recommend introducing them in a neutral territory (definitely not in the cage) like a room, or a temporary play pen. You should be observe them the whole time and stop any aggressive behavior. If all goes well with the first introduction (two or more hours), then you can experiment with giving them access to Daisy's cage and see if there is any problems there. The introductions should be mostly hands-off unless you are breaking up a fight. Let the ferrets find each other and interact with each other in their own way. I hope that helps and all goes well with the introduction.

Thank you for your question about your ferrets, and I am so happy to hear that your older ferret is doing better! Yes, you should be able to introduce your ferrets now that your older one is feeling better, but I would ensure that he is completely at 100% before doing so. And of course, doing this process slowly to ensure that the new ferret doesn't pick on your older one. I typically tell people to wait a couple of weeks prior to the introductions after they have been affected with coronavirus - this is because they often lose weight when they are sick and I want them to gain as much back as possible. I also like for their stool to return back to normal, and to ensure that they are back to their normal hydration as well. If you are questioning at all whether your older ferret is in tip top shape to be able to introduce to your new ferret, I would recommend a recheck examination with your veterinarian. Also, if there were any abnormalities on blood work values or anything else, they can also recheck those to ensure that everything is as normal as possible prior to the introductions. I hope that gives you a place to start, and again I am very happy that your older ferret is feeling better.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! So that is a little but if a tricky question, as some ferrets do better as “only” pets and some do well with a playmate. Another male ferret would be a fine idea, and you can start by getting them used to each other by housing their cages next to each other to allow them to get used to each other without touching. This can then progress to supervised play periods together outside their cages to ensure that they will get along. Good luck!

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a gengivostomatitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for reaching out about Cappy. Young ferrets with clinical signs of possible nausea, are commonly suspect with foreign body ingestion. A veterinary visit is recommended. Besides eating something they were not supposed to, intestinal infections paraistes or metabolic disease, should also be considered. Good luck.