Nathan,
I generally don't vaccinate a ferret on the same day they are scheduled to
have surgery. This is for a couple of reasons:
1)With the stress of anesthesia and surgery the patient may not mount an
adequate immune responce to the vaccine (it may not protect the ferret as
well as a result)
2)With the ferret under the effects of the anesthesia it is very tough
to tell if they are having a vaccine reaction
Ferrets recover very quickly after being spayed. The night of surgery it is
important to keep her quiet (in her cage in a dark room withoutany
playmates). If isoflurane is used as an anesthetic it is ok for her to eat
and drink the night of surgery. Things to watch for are swelling or
bleeding of the incision. Her gums should be nice and pink (if they are
white there is a problem with bleeding). If the incision is opening up she
has pulled out some sutures and you should call your veterinarian. It is
important to not allow her to be too active or play the first 5 days after
surgery, so she does not pull out any sutures.
I hope all goes well
Dr Weiss
301-299-4142
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[Posted in FML issue 1336]