Just received a reply from Dr. Brown concerning Fervac-D and the dilemna
caused by the discontinuance.
 
Dr. Brown reiterates that FervacD is legally the only vaccine available.  She
and others are encouragin Solvay to test GalaxyD, but they cannot as yet
guarantee its safety in ferrets.  She did say the she *used* to have a lot of
reactions to FervacD, mostly stinging but a few more severe allergic
reactions.  She also mentioned that there seems to be a trend amongst related
ferrets to be more sensitive (i.e. littermates).  She is also sad that there
is no longer a choice, but said that honestly she has seen just as many
serious reactions to FrommD of late, and has heard similar reports from other
practitioners.  She stresses that ANY vaccine has the potential for this
problem, and that she has seen many ferrets react to BOTH Fervac and FrommD.
She suggests that if there is a history of reaction, the ferret should be
premedicated with antihistamine and kept in the hospital for a few hours to
observe.  She personally has never had a death from vaccination in ferrets,
though she has heard of some reported, as has occurred in dogs and cats as
well for years, not to mention humans.  In closing, she says, `I think that
the Fervac D is a perfectly acceptable choice with the changes they made in
the formulation of the vehicle over the last few years and I use it
exclusively now with no more problems than the former Fromm D.'
 
My own additional $.02 is that although the risk of a ferret contracting
distemper is small, if it were to happen, there is absolutely no cure.  As
far as we know, it is 100% lethal in ferrets.  Our loved ones escape, they go
for walks, and occassionally have to stay in places where there may be
unvaccinated or even sick animals.  Many wild species, including raccoons
which frequent our backyards, carry distemper.  Vaccinating a sensitive
animal is a risk.  But it is one for which we can be prepared.  Accidents are
not.  I don't mean to sound ominous; I guess I'm just a big fan of
preventative medicine.  I look forward to the day when we have more than one
distemper vaccine to choose from myself.
 
Laura
 
Laura L'Heureux
U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1035]