> What is the reccommended schedule for vaccines for young ferrets?
 
Once again, a question I suspect many people will answer, but here's
the response from the FAQ:
 
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4.2> What vaccinations will my ferret need, and when?
 
According to Nancy Hartman:
     IMRAB rabies vaccine - yearly, starting at about 6 months old.
     (This is the same rabies vaccine as is used for dogs and cats;
     your vet should have it on hand.)
 
     Fervac-D or Fromm-D canine distemper vaccine - see below.
     (Fervac-D is ferret specific, so many vets may not carry it.
     Fromm-D is commonly used for dogs.)  Kits should be vaccinated at
     8 weeks, 11 weeks, and 14 weeks.  But they should have at *least*
     a series of two shots, three weeks apart, with the last one when
     the ferret is older than 14 weeks.  Then 1 booster shot yearly.
     Note: although rabies is the more publicized of the two, the
     distemper shot is MUCH more important for your ferret's health.
 
     [If you can't get the ferret-specific distemper vaccine, use a
     vaccine for canine distemper which is a KILLED VIRUS and was NOT
     cultured in ferret tissue.]
 
     Adult ferrets who have never been vaccinated, the shots are out
     of date, or the ferret is of unknown vaccination status, should
     receive a series of two [distemper] vaccinations, three weeks
     apart, then booster shot yearly
 
Dr. Bruce Williams, DVM, adds:
     An extra distemper shot, in cases where a vaccination history is
     not known, will not hurt a ferret.  Vaccinations is one area in
     which it is better to be safe than sorry.
 
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Hope that helps.
 
- Pam
friend to Pixxel and Rusty the torpedoferrets
Ferret FAQ - rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/pet-ferret-faq/general
 
[Posted in FML issue 0812]