>From:    ruben <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Vaccination?
>I have two Ferrets from marshalls and they are approaching two and I want
>to know what are the risks for and against vaccinations for rabies and
>distemper.  I know there is a lot of debate on the issue of what vac's to
>use but I just wanted to know if possibly not vaccinating is a realistic
>alternative.
 
NO!  This is exactly what I was afraid the hysteria would lead to.
Innoculations are very important.  There are reactions and sometimes they
lead to serious consequences.  There are ways to reduce the risks.  There
are reactions to nearly any vaccine.  And some of what is improperly
described as reactions are actually signs that the vaccine is working.  When
our infant son gets vaccines he is uncomfortable and has a fever for a day
or so - this is normal not a reaction.  Ferrets can have similar lethargy
and such.  A vaccination that doesn't have a reaction but also doesn't work
is not worth doing.
 
There is honestly very little danger of a ferret ever getting rabies due to
their usual indoor lifestyle.  There is even less chance (approximately
0.00%) that they could pass it on.  BUT it could save your ferrets life.  If
there is a bite/scratch incident - even an entirely accidental one - a
rabies innoculation could slow down or stop an over reaction that leads to
the death through testing of the ferret for rabies.  Notice I said scratch.
Ferrets have lost their lives because of scratches from their nails.  Any
ferret that ever leaves the house should be vaccinated.
 
Canine Distemper is a horrible disease that causes a painful heartbreaking
death.  It is possible for a ferret to survive and be cured (expect a write
up in veterinary journals soon) BUT it is outlandishly expensive.  Only one
vaccine is still available that has been proven to help protect your ferret.
Fervac-D.  Nothing else has been tested.
 
To reduce the realistically small but potentially bad reactions take
precautions.  Do not give two vaccinations within two weeks.  That is
seperate the rabies and distemper by about two weeks.  Have the ferret
pretreated with Benedryl a half hour or so before the injection.  We use
2 ml of childrens Benedryl.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://userwww.qnet.com/~killian/zen_home.htm
[Posted in FML issue 1559]