From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-14 22:16:00 UTC
Subject: Re: two more vaccination questions
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "M.Jo" <mjo.dullum@v...> wrote:
Because of the reactions two of my ferrets had, I
> will take the advice of everyone in the future and give the
distemper
> shot first and 2-3 weeks later the rabies. Many advised giving the
> benedryl 1/2 hour before the shot. Is that before each of the
shots, or
> just the distemper or the rabies?
That would be both of them. The only problem with benedryl (and it
is a mnimal one) is that we'll never know if it works or not - itf it
works, there is no vaccine reaction. At that point, we can't tell
whether it is the benedryl, or a lack of susceptibility to vaccine
reactions. Theoretically it works and people who use it report fewer
reactions - but it is still very difficult to tell. So let's be
safe - separate the vaccines and pretreat with Benedryl. Let another
ferret participate in the clinical trials.
>
> One other question.... if my ferrets are scheduled for their regular
> shots in say Aug., does it hurt them to have one or both of them
given
> 2-3 months earlier? But 2-3 weeks apart.
No - there will be no damage.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
Join the Ferret Health List at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-
Health-list