Amy wrote as a non-vet:
>Comment on lapsed vax advice
 
(The reason I am pointed out "non-vet" in this instance is because of the
use of the highly debatable and loaded word "lapsed".)
 
Making choices about how to vaccinate an adult ferret who has missed
vaccinations is also something that a knowledgeable ferrets vet is best
equipped to know how to approach with an eye toward the best health risk
balance.  When Dr. Murray writes:
 
>Distemper a series of 2 to be on the safe side.
 
It comes complete with knowing things like the dangers and horrors of
canine distemper.  If a person hasn't encountered canine distemper in
an animal it is right up there with seeing JL or seeing the new mystery
disease, and actually may even be more of gut and heart wrenching
experience for human observers who love the animal infected given the
level of suffering the animal goes through.  If an animal is up to being
vaccinated then vaccinations make sense but with logical precautions,
esp. waiting at the vets' office for a long while afterward in case a
life-threatening reaction occurs (because in all but a handful of cases
immediate care with Epi, fluids, steroids, antihistamines, and sometimes
respiratory or other support will prevent death when an anaphylactic
reaction occurs), not having both the CD and rabies vax given at the
same time, etc.  If an animal can't be vaccinated -- too ill, having
chemo, etc. then it is best to take precautions.  (Actually, for the
most part I really appreciate my foot and ankle braces, but they have
required me to wear shoes so often that I do worry about increased
exposure for one of our ferrets who can't be vaccinated for health
reasons, so I simply no longer walk in some areas which I loved because
of them being frequented by raccoons and eastern coyotes which is a loss
since we have ferret graves there, I love the critter watching there, and
I had been following some patches of wild orchids and a patch of wild
ginseng (more and more rare due to wild harvesting) and hoping that it
thrives and increases but now I just won't know.  Oh, well.  Probably
just as well given how insure the foothold is in that swamp.) Anyway, the
back and forth on vaccinations and what is guess work vs.  what is known,
what precautions make sense for different situations, what the vets say,
etc.  is all old-hat here, so folks can easily get the entire thing in
http://listserv.cuny.edu/archives/ferret-search.html
[Posted in FML issue 4595]