What is reacted to are protein segments in things so it could
alternatively be threshold phenomenon: where above a certain threshold is
too much. This is why some people (like me) who get allergy shots have
to have lowered amounts during a season when something to which the
person is highly allergic is in abundance: in my case if something to
which I am allergic is blooming, or if I've been around an animal type to
which I am very allergic, or accidently exposed to something else which
triggers me. I have two resting levels for my shots now: one during
seasons with the most abundance of my allergens (one of which we are just
leaving) and one during seasons when my worst allergens are gone (which
we are just about to enter) which is why the frequency of my shots is
increased temporarily at those transition times for adjustments by my
body.
So, it may be that you are reacting at certain times because you had more
of whatever is triggering you (meat, seasoning, something else on the
griddle, additive, etc), or because there also is something else to which
you are allergic (say some type of pollen, a mold which is sporing, a
perfume, whatever) in abundance then.
For that reason if a ferret were known to have seasonal allergies to
certain pollens then it would pay to have the vaccines done at a
different times to reduce the degree of load.
BTW, I often see people write: but my ferret has always been used to this
shampoo or to whatever detergent, or whatever food, or whatever treat, or
has had shots before. It is specifically those things to which there has
been a large exposure to which individual bodies that are more prone to
allergies will react. That is why when a real food allergy occurs (most
food allergies in people are an intolerance of some type instead but when
things like hives appear or worse classic allergy symptoms occur then
allergies are what are most likely) it is very common for the allergy to
be the most frequently eaten foods: a common starch source, a favorite
food (which happened to me with my most favorite food), etc.
In ferrets I've read most commonly of reactions to chicken, but we had
one who reacted to both chicken and turkey. Luckily, he loved lamb, was
okay with beef, and coped okay with a hypo allergenic chicken -origin
(greatly modified) food called z/d which is specially made for such
individuals.
Long ago I read of people who were allergic to certain antibiotics
reacting to meats when the animals had been slaughtered too soon after
they were treated, but I think that problem was supposed to have been
stopped.
Gary wrote:
>I occasionally have a reaction to certain meats, but it is rare, and not
>consistent. Some have said I have a general "meat allergy", but I don't
>buy that, as I eat the same kinds of meat all the time, with no reaction.
>It has *something* to do with *whatever* is IN certain meats (hormones,
>genetically modified, etc.).
>
>I wonder if it is the same when ferrets have a reaction? When it
>happens to me, I itch ALL over, inside and out; everywhere I scratch,
>welts appear.
In a larger reaction in ferrets, people, or others the symptoms are
stronger, but as with you hives and itching can occur as can blister or
rash, blood pressure can drop (and passing out can occur), tissues become
swollen, the loss of fluids can happen so rapidly that blood cells from
the capillaries can be carried with the fluid right through membranes
hence blood with diarrhea, the respiratory tract can swell making
breathing difficult to impossible, etc.. The meds for this are very
effective when given promptly and in high high amounts so death is
actually very rare.
BTW, ferrets can also get asthma. It's rare but we've had one with it.
[Posted in FML issue 4311]
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