>... there is alot of us in Florida that are trying to get them to change >the bitting laws down here if anyone I too live in Florida. Last summer, I had a lengthly conversation with the chief epidemiologist for the state department of health. What he said was that the Centers for Disease Control (I think) and some other federal agency were in the final stages of rabies testing for ferrets. It was pretty technical so I didn't understand much of it. Anyway, the bottom line is that when the testing is completed (he said probably within a year), the state would probably rewrite the rules to institute a quarantine period for biting ferrets. He said the current rule has been on the books for years but it became public because of the biting incident in south Florida (I think). Their position is that they should wait until the tests are completed rather than change the law now and maybe have to change it again later. In the meantime, if a bite does occur, each county handles it in their own way. If you can show that your ferret is vaccinated and that there is no other potential for exposure (other animals or unsupervised outdoor activity), many Florida counties will not kill the ferrets. >shots. And one had a reaction to her shots. Well since she had lose >control of her urine and stool <was very loose> and had a trace of blood in It is my understanding that many farm-bred ferrets (i.e. Marshall, etc.) are chemically fixed so there is no scar. What many of us think is a scar is actually a hair line. However, it pays to be safe as I know most of you are familiar with aplastic anemia (sp??) in females that are in heat and are not bred. I have had two incidents with reactions to shots. Both times, they threw up and had diarrhea almost immediately but were perfecly fine within an hour or so. Just be sure to watch them closely. It is recommended that you remain at your vets office at least 1/2 hour after shots are adminstered so that medical help is immediate if there is a reaction. It also might not be a bad idea to give rabies and distemper shots on different days. That way, if a reaction occurs, you know which one caused it. Then, a medication can be administered prior to the shot being given. [Posted in FML issue 1871]