I have posted on this before and will do so again.  This alert is intended
to enlighten those of you, including vets, who do vaccinations either
privately or to the public.
 
I have done over 900 vaccinations this year and have had 0, that's right o
reactions using the Fervac-D vaccine.
 
First, I order my vaccines from Jeffers Pet supply.  I use the scruff of
the ferrets neck and SQ the vaccine.  This is very important and you all
must remember this.  The vaccine comes in two parts.  The dilutent and
the vaccine.  If the the vaccumn is lacking in the vaccine bottle, do not
use it.  It is tainted and WILL cause a reaction.  There have been three
reactions at the shelter.  All were given by my staff who forgot to check
to see if the vaccine bottle had lost it's vaccumn.  You can tell when you
stick the needle with dilutent in the vaccine bottle.  It should draw up
the dilutent on its own.  If it doesn't do that, it is bad.  I have had
some batches where half of the bottles of vaccine were flat and without
vaccumn.  Jeffers kindly replaced them on my word.
 
Also premedicating with pediatric Benadryl is a must and you must wait at
least 15 minutes before administering the vaccine.  Never give the vaccines
without Dexamethasone(IM) and AdrenalinChloride or Epinephrine on hand in
the event of a reaction.  This is the protocol I use on all the shelter
kids who come in to the shelter.  I no longer vaccinate other folks
ferrets, but recently have many vets call me for help when they are
experiencing their first bad reaction to Fervac-D.  I have yet to see a
ferret suffer long term effects or death from my advice or care.
 
Please print this post and give it to your vets for future reference.
they may call me in person at 303-343-6460 for more info if necessary.  For
those of you who want to threaten myself, the shelter I run, or flame me
for practicing veterinary care without a license in the state of Colorado,
Don't waste you time or mine, I am in full compliance of Colorado Law and
am backed up by the State Vet.
 
Hugs to all,
Ferretguy
[Posted in FML issue 3237]