Why does my ferret sneeze all the time?

Ferrets tend to sneeze a lot. Occasional sneezing is not a great concern. They often hold their noses to force sneezes and then "face wash" to spread scent from glands that are behind and below their ears over their faces. (not prevalent in young kits until they're more mature) When the ferret sneezes you will smell an immediate, increase in scent near the ears.

They have poor eyesight, but excellent smell. Due to their being close to the ground, they spend a great deal of time investigating, constantly sniffing, as a result dust will enter the nose, cause sneezing. A ferret's sneeze, which is very loud, sounds like a combination of a cough and a sneeze. If the ferret looks healthy, does not appear to be sick, sneezing and coughing, then don't worry about this behavior.

A sneezing or cough attack a couple of times a day can be normal. If sneezing is frequent, take a look around. Cat litter can be a source of dust. It could also be the cleaning products you clean the cage, or the room with that could cause irritation. Or smoking (smoking is bad for anyone, but especially for ferrets). Sneezing causes include dust allergies or cold. Humans can transfer influenza virus to ferrets very easily. If you are exhibiting signs of a cold or the flu, use caution when handling and interacting with your ferret.

First answer by Dog-ma. Last edit by Sdresh. Contributor trust: 137 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 78 [recommend question]