>1) Galaxy D was tested on FERRETS to prove it's effectivness for >protecting our canine counterparts against CDV which "IS" the >distemper virus ferret can contract. Fromme D which was a predecessor drug to Galaxy D was tested on ferrets for this purpose, but the only testing of Galaxy D on ferrets was for 21 days on I think 8 male kits. That isn't to say that it doesn't work, because even things like titer results (including on our ferrets) indicate that it produces what are probably good titer numbers. It's just important to remember that while Galaxy D was developed from Fromme D they are NOT the same vaccine. I never heard the things Anonymous mentioned in the third point but that doesn't really add up and I wonder if it may be one of those situations where a story has changed through many tellings (like the rabies vaccine mention yesterday). >People need to remember that ferrets contract "CANINE" Distemper and >since Galaxy D protects our Canines against CDV then it will certainly >protect our ferrets against CDV. Not necessarily. When ferrets were having accepted dog rabies vaccines tested on them for effectiveness they weren't happy enough with some vaccines to include them in the larger testing (which had a handful of vaccines). Of those they tested the LENGTH OF TIME OF PROTECTION turned out to be able to vary from in dogs. One of the ones tested only protected ferrets for 6 months. After 6 months they contracted rabies when exposed. Sorry, but that was long enough ago that I don't recall which vaccines were involved. Another one had such bad side effects that they stopped even testing that one and a vet I know adopted the handicapped survivors herself and had them as her own family ferrets to that they could always have the special attention needed. One of those actually lived to something like 10 years despite it all. IMRAB 3 provided protection for a full year on challenges at a percentage that is considered acceptable for rabies vaccines with minimal rates of side effects in testing. (See other post for info on what might be a recent consideration.) Many thanks to Vicky for the info she shared: >Second, Merial bought Schering Plough the makers of Galaxy D and I've >heard Galaxy D is being phased out. Looks like we won't have Galaxy D >available in the near future. Third, I've had ferrets react to Galaxy >D shots. I've also known of other folks who've had reactions with >Galaxy D shots. The ferrets who have reacted all had been vaccinated >with Purevax or Fervac sometime in their history. That is too bad that it could be phased out, especially since Purevax is often not easy to find. We also have had ferrets who reacted to Galaxy D under those same conditions you mention. Most of the large farms did their initial vaccine with Fervac D until United stopped production of that medication. I won't be available for many questions, possibly any. Sorry. We have an extremely ill human core family member with two emergencies in 5 days. Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html [Posted in FML 6390]