Hello again everyone!
 
I've got some follow-up info in regards to my post from the other day about
premedicating prior to vaccinating ferrets.  Judy Cooke, who had originally
posted the question about premedicating, sent me email this morning.  She
took my post to her vet when she went in for her ferrets' shots.  She and
her vet, who sounds wonderful and committed to the best care he can give an
animal, looked over the FerVac package.  There is no suggestion on it.  I
went back to my friend the vet tech who also checked the package.  Can you
believe ie?  United has removed the suggestion.  However, in place of it,
they now have what is essentially a warning label.  My friend will be
sending it to me and as soon as I get it, I will post it verbatim here.  In
short, the paperwork included with the vaccine warns that various diseases
and environmental conditions may affect the efficacy of the vaccine and
that reaction and/or anaphylactic shock may occur in some animals.  Sounds
to me like they're hedging their bets in recognition of a problem, but I
don't want to condemn anyone so don't go on a crusade about this.  Let's
see what the exact wording is, please.
 
Anyway, Judy also told me that her vet can no longer get injectable
Benadryl but that he has other medications that he could use instead.  He
also suggested to her to give the oral children's Benadryl herself at least
a half hour before vaccinating.  He, himself, will be checking with United
and also researching his medical texts.  I told you he sounds like a
wonderful vet!
 
On to my suggestions for safe ferret shows.  I received an email from a
FML person who had concerned questions in regards to the safety/sanitary
precautions that will be taken at the Pennsauken ferret show.  As I'm not
on the show committee, I'm not even officially involved with any of it, I
can't answer that question.  If anyone from the AFA can educate us, I'd
truly love to hear from them.  (This is said with all sincerity and
honesty.  I am NOT being sarcastic so no one jump on the AFA or me,
please.)  In the meantime, I started to think about various suggestions I'd
give in this regard, both to the committees and to the people showing their
ferrets(the exhibitors).  I invite committee personnel and exhibitor alike
to comment on these suggestions or to add to them with their own.  It can
only help to educate people and make for better and, most importantly,
safer ferret shows.
 
First, of course, is the requirement of proof of rabies and distemper
vaccination.  These are easily presentable by the exhibitor.  Amazingly
enough, cat shows don't ask for proof of vaccination and I cannot imagine
why.  Let's not take their example and put our darlings at risk.  We can
do better than that.
 
Next suggestion is also easy enough.  This is what cat shows do right.  All
judges have a bottle of disinfectant at their ring.  After each cat/ferret
is seen, the judge cleans their hands and the table.  Only the judge
handles the cats/ferrets.  Since I'm not sure how a ferret show handles
calling ferrets to the ring, I'm not sure if you have holding cages or if
the exhibitor simply stands by and hands the judge the ferret.  If there
are holding cages, those get cleaned between animals also.  If the animal
is handed to a ring steward, that person must also clean their hands
between animals.  This is just common sense to me.  The disinfectant may
get a little harsh after a while, but you can always include a bottle or
tube of hand lotion for each judge.
 
A thought I had, which might be feasible and might not, is to get those
groomers' aprons for the judges to wear so that they could even spritz
their aprons with disinfectant between animals.  I don't know how much
contact each judge has with the ferrets to be honest.  This may not be
needed at all, but it's a worthwhile thought.
 
Lastly, a suggestion for the exhibitors themselves.  Don't leave the safety
of your ferrets up to the show committees.  Take action yourself too.  What
I suggest is standard practice at cat shows.  Make yourself some show
curtains.  The curtains should cover all sides of the cage except the front
and even the front can be covered with a piece of lace of some such.  This
will keep other ferrets from having access to your guys and it will keep
people from sticking their fingers in your cages.  This may not be a
sure-fire safety precaution, but every little bit helps, I'm sure.  It will
also help to liven up the show hall.  You could even have contests for the
best curtains, the wackiest designs or material, the best thematic display.
It can become another fun aspect of showing.  Lord knows, I've seen some
crazy cage set-ups at cat shows (the gold lamee cage comes to mind!).
 
As an exhibitor, I'd also get some disinfectant for myself.  I'd keep it at
my cage and offer it to anyone who might handle my ferrets.  I'd use it
myself often as well.  I've always kept a spray bottle of disinfectant in
my show kit and used it religiously.  I used Quatricide but I'm looking at
picking up another product this time around.  I think it's called Dakil?
It's got to be a parvocide/virucide.  Bleach is great but you'll end up
with white spots everywhere!
 
So what do people think?  Sound reasonable?  Got any comments?  How about
other ideas?
[Posted in FML issue 2985]