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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2011 21:22:35 GMT -5
Well... Bantha's breathing has been worrying me since we got him. It seems to me it's caused by his weight (which he barely lost anything since switching and getting exercise - he is more dextrous and stronger, but definitely not much lighter). He breaths very labored (maybe not labored, but I can hear like a wheezing/exaggerated breathing sound), but he's otherwise active and eats well. He doesn't have a runny nose/discharge. I can't tell if it's his heart, pressure on his trachea from his weight, his lungs, or something else. It's especially exaggerated and apparent when we put him on his back.
He also does this weird licking thing (like he's licking the roof of his mouth) which I have seen before in ferrets with digestive issues/upset (from working for a vet for 2 years). I never really worried about it since he eats a LOT, and his poops are nice and solid (except today when he went on the puppy pad outside the cage, it was a little seedy, but a nice color and size). He is doing it less than when I first got him, but he still does it. Could his stomach still be getting used to his new diet after 2 weeks of it?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2011 21:36:28 GMT -5
I forgot to add that he's only 7 months old.
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Post by Heather on Feb 23, 2011 22:56:02 GMT -5
Just because I have one, could his mouth or jaw be malformed? This malformation affects Boris' breathing, how he eats and how he holds him mouth. Boris cannot close his mouth, he's the only ferret I've ever had that whistles. I can hear him coming down the hallway. He's healthy, active, eats well and enjoys life, for how long I don't know. You could mistake it as a wheeze, in fact I thought originally (why he met the vet in the first place) he had an upper respiratory infection. I felt like an absolute idiot when we found out that it had nothing to do with his lungs at all  At this exam we also discovered that he couldn't breathe when scruffed, he will struggle and then pass out. ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 0:41:58 GMT -5
There could be any number of things going on. How long have you had him?
-jennifer
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 0:57:01 GMT -5
Oh my... wow. Poor Boris  I have scruffed Bantha before, but he is the only one out of all of them that is totally relaxed when I do. He even yawns more than they do when he is. When he yawns and eats, he doesn't seem to have any difficulty, and looks like he can open his jaw just fine (and really wide). Sari (our little blaze girl) on the other hand can't open her mouth as wide (you can tell when she yawns) and is a noisy eater and leaves LOTS of crumbs behind (they eat freeze-dried and dehydrated). But even with her, it doesn't seem that bad. He is bright-eyed and active when he plays, and wakes up often, but he does seem to tire faster. He is super lazy (sometimes, he'll sleep in the bed on the bottom near the litter and food just above after he eats and/or poops. Although, he hasn't been doing that as often as he used to (he will actually go up to the upper levels (not the highest because he still has trouble getting up to that one or just doesn't realize he can even though I have shown it to him on multiple occasions  ). He gets up the ramps easier and without difficulty now versus when he first got here (another reason he slept in the bed on the bottom). He can even jump into the cage now without a box there to help  Do you think he will lose weight once he's a little older? Or is he past the age for that, and his weight is set? I think Reks and Pan at a year age thinned out and were then set at that weight (minus fluctuations during the different seasons). Sari stayed the same weight after she lost the access weight when I got her at 6 months old (she even stays the same weight year round). So I guess with Bantha, I'll find out soon  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 0:58:07 GMT -5
I have had him for a month now. Got him at 6 months of age (with two previous owners, but I don't think either kept him that long).
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 10:00:49 GMT -5
Does he breathe harder when playing or after playing? Or does he just get tired?
Have you taken him to a vet? I suspect a vet trip will be expesnive (diagnostics) and will not yield results. SO, I'd give him some time to see if his condition changes before taking him in.
-jennifer
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 10:43:30 GMT -5
Hmmm... I want to say both, but it depends. It seems to only really be apparent when he's sleeping in an odd position or I'm holding him on his back. Sometimes if I hold him too high up under his arms, he starts struggling as if he can't breath (I support his butt always since he's so big). He hasn't been to the vet yet since I'm still trying to find a vet that I approve of (I'm picky) in Houston since I have moved here. I'd hate to just "try" them out, possibly resulting in disappointment and money already forked over for nothing (and a bunch of bull ). It isn't really THAT bad, just not something I have experienced with my other three (they are all on the small side). I'm just worried about possible health problems later from it... especially if it's his heart. It makes me think he's just going to have a random heart attack some day if he gets startled or something. As soon as I do take him to the vet, I will want to rule out everything if possible. I know one of his previous owners (that returned him after just one day) was a pothead with a cat who kept attacking Bantha. Could the cat have injured Bantha in some way that would make him breath weird? Gaaaah  I want to think it's just his weight. I will have to wait and see. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 10:46:33 GMT -5
Just remembered... when he is hopping around playing, he throws his weight around a LOT. So when he pounces down or on something, he makes a *huff* sound, or a forced exhale (like the air is being knocked out of him). He doesn't seem to mind or notice though |
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Post by Sherry on Feb 24, 2011 10:48:09 GMT -5
It's possible it's just weight and lack of exercise. You say he's only been on his diet for two weeks now? It takes a while for any raw to have an effect on weight. And muscle does weigh more than fat. Combine that with the fact he's still got a lot of baby fat on him. It might take a little while to lean out.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 11:02:32 GMT -5
Yeah... I think you're right Sherry. I'm guessing that it's just his weight. But you know... ferrets make us worry so d*mn much |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 21:01:08 GMT -5
It's very possible that smoke exposure has set up irritation in the lungs that will need to heal. For all we know, the previous owners may have been giving him shotguns to mess him up. Nothing would surprise me. The struggling could be due to the fact that the poor little baby has been shuffled around to pet stores and different owner...a LOT of change. He may not feel secure being held in vulnerable positions - hence, the struggling and deeper breathing. I haves seen ferts breath deeply while sleeping heavily on their backs - sometimes dreaming will result in very deep breaths and even squeaks! -jennifer |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 21:15:07 GMT -5
He's actually the most relaxed ferret we have ;D He will actually fall asleep in our arms (the others will RARELY ever do this). I have been more careful lately of how I hold him (as to not put too much pressure on his lungs or trachea). I hold him in my arms on his back a lot, and he likes it The smoke thing is possible. He only had him for one day though. The others will snore and such, especially if sleeping on their backs... but sometimes his just seems more exaggerated compared to the little *weep* sounds the others make. Then again, I don't hear him snoring often. I think I'm just paranoid about the times that I HAVE heard him breathing weird. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2011 18:21:50 GMT -5
One good thing for sure...if you're still trying to figure out if his breathing is abnormal, you know it has not gotten worse  -jennifer |
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). He gets up the ramps easier and without difficulty now versus when he first got here (another reason he slept in the bed on the bottom). He can even jump into the cage now without a box there to help 
