OK - Another story about another ferret - having another horrid reaction
to a distemper vaccine and dying.  I am sorry all - but I like my ferrets
alive, thank you very much - and upon the advice of my vet here, I am
seriously not going to vaccinate for distemper, until someone can find a
GUARANTEED vaccine that won't kill them!.
 
Now I am sure a bunch of ya are all sayin' : a vet said that?" - Yep.
He did.  He said he has watched numerous ferrets die from this vaccine -
but has yet to see even ONE case of distemper in ferrets he cares for (he
has been a vet now for 22 years here)  Yes, I have heard the stories of
how horried distemper can be - and I am aware of the risks I am taking.
Is it safe for me to do this?  Well of course not.  I am not a complete
moron.  Is it fair?  I don't know - but how fair is it to make them have
a shot - because "everyone says to" - and then have them die, or suffer a
horrid reaction - vomit blood - have their bowels explode, etc (some of
the stories I have seen he re regarding reactions to this damn vaccine
ranks right up there with the Exorcist).  It is rather like Russian
Roulette.  But I DO know this: I won't be the person responsible for them
having a horrid reaction to a shot I made them get, because everyone
"said to do it".
 
You know what strikes me as odd?  While I see - almost weekly - a story
about a ferret having a horrid reaction, and/or dying from being
vaccinated (pretreated or not, vet on hand or not) - I have yet to see
ANY stories about someone's ferret actually contracting distemper and
dying from it.....(beyond someone's well meaning "advise and
description).  Now I am sure that there is more than myself out here -
that feels this way - and just doesn't "say it": for fear of "flames".
Well - that isn't what I am after (flames that is) - and I don't want
everyone to try and "change my mind".  I just want to know if anyone
else out here feels the same way - or is doing the same thing?
 
[KA]
[Posted in FML issue 4616]