>From:    Sharon Allen <>
>Subject: Purevax reaction
>I have not heard of any ferret having a reaction to this vaccine.  My vet
>now says that Tally cannot be vaccinated again.  She is six years old and
>I expect will live many more years because she is quite healthy.
 
There have been a few.  She likely is allergic to one of the compounds in
the matrix that is common among vaccines Sometimes such compounds also are
in rabies vaccine (depending on which compound is causing the allergic
reaction).  Yes, for this particular ferret you will have to stop
vaccinating if the vet felt that it was clearly a reaction and it sounds
like that is what happened.  We have had one in the past who was allergic
to rabies vaccine and to all the CD vaccines that then existed.  Right now
we have two of our seven who are allergic to every CD vaccine tried on
them and it is being considered that perhaps those individuals won't have
rabies vaccines either due to their apparent problem with a common
component of vaccine matrices.
 
Skip outdoor walks with her, and don't let strangers who might freak
at a claw cut, kiss to a cut, etc. handle her.  Be careful to not
expose her to unvaccinated animals or to carriers of Canine Distemper.
 
I also have several PV ferrets.  With the exception of one of them they're
all very agressive!  I'm not sure why.
 
At one point PV was trying for shortened faces, and I still personally
consider their faces to be shorter than from many sources, though others
may disagree, so use your own judgement.  Shortened faces can cause
teething to be more difficult if the dental arcade is too crowded.  This
can lead to chewing to try to deal with it, and that in turn can include
gnawing on fingers which are just the right size.  There are several ways
to handle this.  If a ferret (form any source) has palatine tooth
eruptions then those teeth must be removed.  If the room is very
diminished then teeth also must be removed.  If the tight arcade has
resulted in a baby tooth become entrapped between adult teeth then the
possible results include mis-aligned teeth, pain (biting), infection, gum
abscess, and even bone abscess.  If an animal is biting or gnawing due to
pain or discomfort then punishment will backfire big-time.  Punishment is
best avoided, anyway.  Have the teeth checked during the 3 appointments
you wil have made for CD vaccines and for rabies vaccine, and use
times-out.  Also, give Cheweasels, and Foamy Fries which are safe chewing
items that help them, and which also keep teeth cleaner.
 
Every once in a while I ask this question -- especially since some of the
fancies have been so widely bred into much of the much of the nation's
ferret breeding stock.  Do have long-lived or normal lived fancies?  To
date I have heard of one marked white line that appeared to be
longer-lived than normal, with the breeder still following those and us
wanting one of them in a few years if it continues to hold true.  Have
heard of a number of normal-lived DEWs.  The problem is that I am still to
hear of any pandas or blazes that have lived beyond a too-short 6 and 3/4
years.  Anyone have any?  I think that a lot of the complaints about
sources may actually be complaints about in-built problems in some
fancies.  Also am interested in hearing of the health and longevity of
those with pronounced bilateral asymmetry since that sometimes is related
to aortic arch defects.  In albinos have encountered more eye problems
(NOT a big deal for them at all) and sometimes more apparent
susceptibility to infection, but typically have encountered normal
lifespans as have done with the standards.
[Posted in FML issue 3617]