Shannon,
 
You asked two questions: one about giving both distemper and rabies
vaccinations at the same time; the second, about a 3 year rabies booster.
 
The recommendation from Dr Zak Mills of R.M.  who makes the IMRAB-3 rabies
vaccine for ferrets, is to separate the rabies and the distemper vaccines by
two weeks.  This apparently places less of a "load" of materials in the
ferret's system at one time, plus allows, in the event of a reaction, to
know to which the ferret reacted.  We always follow this procedure.  Others
don't.
 
IMRAB-3 is a three year vaccine for some animals.  It may be for ferrets
too, but the point is (and it is a VERY important point) it has not been
proven in ferrets.  IMRAB-3 has only been tested for a one year period, and
has been proven effective for that one year.  The Compendium of Animal
Rabies Control, the "bible" of rabies control, recommends vaccinating every
year.  If you do not have the yearly 'booster', Public Health officials will
likely not recognize the vacciation.  Also, you did not mention what rabies
vaccine your vet used.  Always make sure that they use only IMRAB-3.  It is
the ONLY rabies vaccine recagnized by the USDA at this time.
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1699]