Just took 4 of the kids to have their distemper.  The vet use Fervac.  Sand
was the last to get vaccinated, and I was waiting in the reception area for
20 minutes.  I had Sand on my lap and he started retching.  I thought, he
is having a reaction, and told the vet tech.  They took him in the back
room while I check on the other kids to make sure they are alright.  After
a bit, they said I could go see Sand if I want, he got some shots (forgot
the name) and he's on oxygen.  I went in and they told me he was retching
a bit, and they weren't sure it was going to be a reaction, but then he
had a bowel movement and had bloody diarrhea.  I guess he went in shock or
something?  His feet were so cold, the vet said I could massage them to get
the blood circulating.  I did, and they turn pink again, but sand remain
unconcious?
 
This is a small town vet, they are wonderful people, but it was obvious
(and I asked) that they have never seen a ferret react to vaccine before.
After a while, the vet tech, who was monitoring Sand's heartbeat and
breathhing, commented to me: "You know his breathing and heartbeat have
been steady and normal since we gave him the shots, but he's still limp..".
I thought a bit, no, the little monster is ASLEEP.  We confirmed it.  He
was happy to get a bit of corn syrup, but when we try to put his head back
into the oxygen cup he pushed groggily away.  It takes a ferret to all
asleep during a vaccine reaction <sigh>.  The vet tech commented that if it
was a dog or a cat, they would have been very worried, but they have only
heard of how deeply ferret sleep, so it was good I was on hand to tell them
what was normal...
 
Just a question for anybody who had ferrets that had vaccine reactions
before, how important or useful is it to pre medicate said ferrets in
subsequent shots?  What is the point of premedicating?  Birch had had a
reaction 3 years back and I never knew to premedicate her, but the reaction
hasn't repeated yet.  Also, if a ferret had a reaction after you have left
the vincinity of the vet what can you do to help (while returning to the
vet) if you are not trained in medicine?  Would forcing honeyed water or
other liquids help?  That's the only thing I can think of.
 
Sand's back to normal, after being pampered and getting extra treats (honey
with water).
 
Vet visits are always interesting.  This visit, I scared a lady paying for
her cat/dog food, with 3 ferrets on my shoulders.  I made another lady's
life complete, when she realize her lifelong dream of holding a ferret.
And there's always somebody who say they had one as a kid or their child
had one, and how mine seem so much friendlier and nicer (carefully not
letting sprite near them).
 
Back in 2 weeks for their rabies shot.  Hopefully nothing out of the
ordinary.  Thanx in advance for your answers.
 
// ***********************************************
// Selina, Birch, Dief, Sprite, Storm, Sand & Bear
// http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~ssiu
[Posted in FML issue 2974]