Hi FML'ers
 
I wrote the other day requesting info on feline distemper and someone
asked me to post all anwsers.
 
I thought he was crazy till I saw all the different anwsers...Please
remark that some say that galaxy-d is a feline distemper shot (ron I
think).  Please post your comments so I can come to a concensus.(what
type of distemper from what type of animal)
 
1.
I believe the going vaccine in the US Fervac D.  I think that you are from
Canada, "sympatico.ca"  In Canada we have Fromm D and Galaxy D.  Just a sec
and I will see what my babies were given on their last innocs: Galaxy is
what they were given.  Anyway, I believe they use the same vaccine,
(different dosages) for dogs and cats alike.  I know that ferrets "do not"
need to be innoculated against "feline leukemia", might that be what you
mean?  I am not sure what your vet means by "feline distemper".  Please if
I am the one confused here, let me know if there is a difference between
the distemper virus that a dog could catch vs. the distemper virus that a
cat could catch.  Jadesun
 
2.
Ferrets are NOT susceptible to feline distemper.  There is absolutely no
reason to vaccinate them against it.  They are VERY susceptible to CANINE
distemper and should very definitely be vaccinated against it.  This is the
disease that is 100% fatal.  They must use a KILLED VIRUS vaccine created
from a non-mustelid cell line.  Other cells that have been used to create
vaccines safe for ferrets include chickens and simians.  Specific vaccines
you could use include FERVAC (I believe from United Vaccines) and GALAXY-D
(from Schering-Plough, formerly marketed by Fort Dodge).  DO NOT use a
combination vaccine-- you should use a stand alone canine distemper
vaccine.  Vaccine reactions in ferrets, as you may have read in this
morning's FML, can be disastrous, so why increase the exposure by
vaccinating for diseases that weren't required?  For this reason also, sit
around your vet's office for 30-60 minutes after the vaccination in case
your ferret should have a severe reaction so that you'll be close to help.
It may waste your time, or it may save your ferret's life.  In 7 years of
owning multiple ferrets I've had only one vaccine reaction that required
veterinary intervention, but once was enough!  Also, if your ferret gets
other vaccinations, for example rabies, do not get all the shots on the
same appointment.  Spread them by 2 weeks or so.  The reaction my ferret
had turned out to be to the rabies vaccine, not the distemper, but we
didn't know the first year because the shots had been given at the
samevisit.  We separated them the next year and the same ferret had a mild
reaction to the rabies shot, but not to the distemper shot.
Good luck, Debra in Fort Worth
 
 
3.
There is no evidence that ferrets can get feline distemper.  CANINE
distemper is about 100% fatal to ferrets.  Ferrets should be vaccinated
for that.  The texts (Quesenberry "Ferrets Rabbits and Rodents;" and Fox
"Biology and Diseases of the Ferret") do not recommend vaccinating with a
feline distemper vaccine.
Dick B.
 
4.
Ferrets don't get feline distemper.  A few years ago, the vaccination was
recommended, and mine had it without incident, but it is now considered
unnecessary.  Almost any vaccination can kill a ferret if the ferret has a
bad reaction to it, but there's no reason to give feline distemper.
Take Care
Melissa
 
5.
You are partially right here.  Distemper is 100% fatal in ferrets.  That
is why they need the feline distemper vaccinations.  The most common one
is Galaxy D, which is what I use with my fuzzies.  There is a distemper
vaccine that is specific to ferrets, it is called Ferravac - D.  I don't
use it because there are too many reactions to it.
(Ron C)
 
6.
Feline distemper shots should not be used on a ferret, am sure that you
have recieved plenty of emails about this already.  There is Ferrevac-D,
made specifically for ferrets, but tend to have reactions to it, there is
also Galaxy-D, which hasn't been approved for ferret use yet, but is much
safer to use on your ferret.
Vicky H
 
That"s it folks....Now you see what I was talking about...write back if
you want
[Posted in FML issue 2788]