Bruce Williams writes:
 
> Distemper is a 100% fatal disease. A reaction is rare. Although your
> ferrets.....
  [...]
> Responsible pet ownership begins with vaccination. Your child may
> have a reaction to a rubella vaccine, but you wouldn't let him/her
> go without one...
 
Bruce, I agree that ferrets should be given shots, particularly since
the two diseases mentioned, Distempter and Rabies, are fatal diseases,
and reactions are rare. In all my years of owning ferrets (and I had 4
of them) mine never had a reaction to their shots that I noticed.
 
I do think it is medically irresponsible of you, though, to compare
vaccinations for fatal diseases to human vaccinations for a usually
*non fatal* disease. A close friend's daughter almost died from a
vaccination, and, if the doctor had taken the family's medical history
seriously, he would have realized that child was on the risk list for
vaccinations, and that they shouldn't have vaccinated to begin with
(according to directions included with the vaccination).
 
Now, we don't have such a list for pets - we don't know family
histories, instances of seizures, etc. And you are talking about fatal
diseases. So, pet owners need to do the best they can, vaccinate - and
watch for reactions - and breeders need to notice if they do end up
with a strain of animals that tends to not handle the vaccine. And if
the ferret does have a reaction, then the owner needs to try an
alternative if there's one available, for next time - and be sure to
keep all his other animals vaccinations up to date.
 
Tigger (Grace Sylvan)                Mom of Katherine Yelena, 5,
[log in to unmask]              Corey 1/31/91; we loved him so,
                                     Robin Gregory, 2.75
 
 "It seems to me that our large goal is to find the ways to help our
 children become humane and strong."
 
              - Dr Haim Ginott quoted by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
[Posted in FML issue 1098]