Aggie wrote: >well, I just got back from the vet and I must say I am pissed (excuse my >language)! I went to get a booster shot for my little Pechu. It was for >distemper. maybe I'm expecting too much, but when you go to a vet, you >expect the same vet every time and that the vet knows your pet and the >vet answers your questions with pleasure. AM I expecting too much, but >I do expect when I go with a healthy pet that the vet I see is the same >every time. I would expect them to schedule me so that I get to see the >same vet every time. When you have a different vet every time you visit, >it feels very impersonal, and I don't think its fair to the pet or human. I have more than one vet for my guys, across the street is the one for shots, and just checkups, and about a half hour away is the ferret knowledgeable vet for surgeries, ill ferrets,etc. The one across the street has 3 vets, one is the original owner and has no ferret knowledge, the vet tech showed him how to scruff, the other two are o.k. When I make the appointment I am asked if I have a preference for who I see. If they don't ask, I ask them to schedule me with so and so. I have seen other vets from time to time, and have taken opportunities to educate the non-ferret experienced vets. One never heard of the Tennessee panel, so I sent them the info, how to send the sample, etc. It was not for my ferret, but in case they had a case and needed the info. I also print any good medical stuff I come across, and I try not to be confrontational with the vets. Ear mites are easy to diagnose with a sample of the ear debris on a slide. Shouldn't charge too much to do that. I expect the vet would be very familiar with ear mites since they are not unique to ferrets. Ferretone however is unique - although it is basically the same as Linatone for cats and dogs. I pay for the initial exam and shots and the booster shots are the only charge on the follow up- no exam fee that time. I also ask up front for pricing, and called around to find out the fees for shots, exams, etc. for my cats,dogs, and settled for the best I could find, reasonable fees, good hours of operation, and location. Although it may be hard to find ferret experienced vets, you can educate your vet,get references to where the nearest ferret vet is , and ask for the vet you like when you schedule your appointments. In the U.S. the distemper vaccine is just that, the only approved one is Fervac-D, but Galaxy D has been used in those with known allergies to Fervac. Try putting in Ferret vaccines in the search engine, and you will find companies that sell the vaccine. I don't know the added costs to ship to Canada. Problems: Vets don't like to give vaccines they didn't order and they can't assure it was stored properly,etc. Ferrets have a chance of getting a severe allergic reaction after the shots- so doing it at home is dangerous, unless you have a vet you work closely with, that is open when you give the shot, etc. I couldn't find a vet to give the vaccines I orderd for the dogs, the vaccines cost about $2-4 for the 5 in1 shot, which the vet charges $40 for, understand this is a way for them to make their money and cover overhead, the only place I have found it cheaper is at low cost clinics. I can't get my dogs groomed or boarded if I give it myself- have to have proof of the vaccine from a vet FYI- around me, in the North East, U.S. the distemper vaccine is usually around $15. Patty [Posted in FML issue 3508]