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For some of us, flu season is in full swing right now. Coughs, runny noses, and sore throats may just be the beginning of the suffering. Something that many pet ferret owners are unaware of is that ferrets can come down with the flu just like the rest of us can. They can even catch the sickness from us. Most flue strains that affect humans can affect ferrets, as well. The symptoms in ferrets are very similar to ours and so is the course of the infection. Five to seven days of the illness is typical with symptoms of a fever, loss of an appetite, coughing, sneezing, and a clear discharge from the eyes and nose. Most cases are handled by the immune system, although a few cases can be fatal, especially when accompanied by bacterial infections or when it progresses to pneumonia. Any treatment that is available can only treat the symptoms to lessen the discomfort while the virus runs its course. This is the same as treatment in humans. A qualified veterinarian can diagnose the flu and offer medications to treat your pet ferret's symptoms. As with humans, hydration is very important to ferrets with influenza. If your little friend won't drink for more than a day at a time, you should contact your veterinarian and get advice from him or her. The veterinarian might want to see your fuzzy. To prevent your pet fuzzy from contracting influenza you should limit the contact you have with him or her while you have the flu or flu-like symptoms. When you do have contact with your pet, be sure to wash your hands before and after interacting with him or her or even the ferret's immediate area. Even if you are not ill you can spread the flu. Give your pet's cage a thorough cleaning if either of you have recently been ill and isolate any sick ferrets from other ferrets you may have in your home. This can keep the rest of them from getting ill. Since our pets rely on us to keep them safe and healthy, it is good to know that human influenza can infect our ferrets. The symptoms are, basically, the same and the virus runs the same course. This allows most of us to know what to expect because most of us have had the flu and been around people that have had it. We know what to expect and can deal with it accordingly. If you have any questions you should contact your veterinarian. Visit the author's websites for deals on ferret cages for sale and other large ferret cages.
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