Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from the flu. In this article, you will learn what causes it, the most common symptoms, and which ferrets are most at risk. We will also provide an overview on what steps you will want to take to help your ferret recover.

What is the Flu? What is it Not?

Did you know that ferrets are used to test the Influenza A vaccine each year? This is because just like humans, ferrets can catch the flu. Influenza is the most common respiratory infection in ferrets, according to Ferrets for Dummies.

Note: Ferrets cannot catch the common cold. However, they can get a sinus infection which can look a lot like the common cold.

Symptoms of the Flu:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Runny nose
• Fever (over 104F)
• Diarrhea
• Face rubbing
• Lack of appetite

Most at Risk:

Ferrets can catch the flu from their human owners if they are sick. Therefore, ferrets around humans with the flu are the most susceptible. Just like in humans, the flu will hit elderly and youngsters the hardest.

How Do You Treat a Ferret with the Flu?

Your ferret will need round-the-clock care to recover from the flu. Just like with humans, make sure your ferret is drinking enough water. According to Ferrets for Dummies, a ferret requires 4 teaspoons of fluid, three times per day to stay hydrated. If a ferret is already dehydrated they will need more than that. Warning: do not over-hydrate your ferret.

Keep track of your ferret’s recovery journey. Document it and send us the notes so we can improve this article! A healthy ferret should take about 5 days to recover. An elderly or otherwise compromised ferret may take several weeks to recover. If your ferret does not seem to be getting better, take them to the vet.

When Moose caught the flu, we made the mistake of leaving him home alone all day while we were at work. We came home and he hadn’t moved at all in 8 hours. He was awake, but in a daze with a floppy body. We rushed him to the vet and then had to spoon feed him food paste and use a water dropper to give him fluids.

Because we didn’t take Moose’s flu symptoms seriously (as first time ferret owners), it quickly turned into bacterial pneumonia. That is why we sincerely hope you do everything in your power to help your ferret recover quickly.