A while back, someone asked about the acceptance of shots given at home. In my experience, if you could provide the receipt showing when and where the vaccine was purchased from, the empty vial(s), and a log showing the history of the shots given, this was ample proof for the vet. My vet always did a routine exam prior to issuing the certificate. But I would check with the vet ahead of time. I have to add my $.02 about giving shots at home. There are some pros and cons to be considered. (Sorry this is so long.) The pros are 1.) the lower cost of shots - which run about $2.00 for distemper 2.) and the ability to choose your own vaccine. For shelter owners and owners with many animals, this can be a significant savings over the years. As far as the brand goes, my vet is forced by the owners of the clinic to use Galaxy-D since it can be given to many species. I prefer Fervac which I get from United Vaccine. And I am very comfortable giving shots since I was raised on a farm and have done this since I was in 4-H. The cons, however, should be seriously considered. 1.) If you give shots at home, you *must* have epinephrine available and know how to use it. (IMHO, I think that everyone should have epinephrine available anyway. What if your ferret got stung by a bee and was allergic to it?) Epinephrine is a *very* powerful drug and, if used improperly, can kill. The cost is nil - about $2.50 for 10 ml from Omaha vaccine - in other words, cheap insurance. 2.) Do you know what to do if your ferret goes into anaphalaxis? How serious of a reaction requires an injection of epinephrine? How much epinephrine? (Not all vets are willing to share this information and probably rightfully so.) If anaphalaxis occurs, you will probably be in a panic. Can you react rationally? 3.) The cost of just one emergency visit to an after-hours clinic to treat a reaction can wipe out the savings of giving shots at home for years! 4.) As Dr. Williams once said, vaccinations are the bread and butter of a veterinarians practice. The little bit they make on vaccinations pays for a lot of other less profitable procedures. When Cooper went into anaphalaxis following his Fervac injection in April, it took me a few moments to realize what was happening. By the time I had the epinephine shot prepared, he was not breathing, was totally limp, and had turned blue around the mouth. (It took less than 2 minutes from the time he got the distemper shot until he was "dead.") My visit to the emergency clinic was $67 - $49 for the after-hours office visit and the remainder for the fluids and steriods. The visit to my regular vet the next day was $30 for follow-up steriods and more fluids. Cooper is fine now, but I figure that the shot I gave at home cost me about $60 extra (assuming he would have reacted even if the vet gave him the shot.) It takes a lot of shots at home to make up that difference. So is it worth it? Unless you have a lot of animals, are a shelter, or are a breeder, probably not. Let your vet assume the responsibility. The vet will know what to do if an emergency arises. This is my opinion only..... -Carla PS. Always, *always* stay at the vets and monitor the ferret for at least 30 minutes after any shot! [Posted in FML issue 1267]