Lise-
 
I think we have some miscommunication going on.  I posted like I did,
because the way your post read, it seemed like you were giving information
that people should deem as factual.  It was and is not.  I just wanted
people to be sure to understand that it was incorrect, regardless of
whether you were citing it or passing along hearsay or whatever.
 
While I am not faulting people for taking ferrets to PetCo for shots, I do
still think that an annual exam with a ferret knowledgeable vet in the vets
office is important.  PetCo is not set up to handle bloodwork, ultrasounds,
xrays and other diagnotic tests which should be part of any exam.  I know
of one ferret owner who uses PetCo for her rabies shots in order to keep
down costs, but still sees the vet every year for everything else.  By
using PetCo, she is able to not have to combine rabies and distemper in
one visit at the vet, or pay a second $35 office visit plus vaccine a few
weeks later.  This is wise.  But people who substitute a PetCo visit for
a thorough vet exam at the vet they see every year are just asking for
trouble.  Why?  Two important reasons.
 
1. That way all of the ferrets records are kept by the vet in one location,
   and the same vet sees the ferret each time.
 
2. In an emergency, many vets will open or stay late or squeeze in a
   regular client.  not the case with a "stranger".
 
Anne
[Posted in FML issue 3189]