From:
Mike Janke
Date: 2001-05-30 19:56:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Ferret Shows
Any time you go to a place where there are other animals, you run a
risk. Shows require ferrets attending be current on their rabies and
distemper vaccine, but there are other, almost equally nasty,
diseases that they can carry for which there are no vaccinations.
ECE and ADV to name two. There has been some debate lately about ADV
testing at shows, but I won't get into that political hot potato.
There is no test for ECE. If you search the message archives here
for ECE and ADV, you'll no doubt find more than you ever wanted to
know about these two diseases in ferrets.
But heck, you can bring ECE home just by going to the pet store and
cuddling one of the baby ferrets and then coming home and cuddling
your own without washing first and changing your clothes.
So you need to know the risks and the precautions to take, but that's
not to say you should avoid shows at all costs. I'd go myself, and
have, but I wouldn't take any of my ferrets. That's just my personal
feeling on the matter.
Mike
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Joy Galey <sacred@w...> wrote:
> I was wondering about ferret shows. Where can I find where they are
and
> what it takes to be a show ferret. I also wanted to know you guys
> opinion about them. I hear that they are fun etc etc but I also
hear the
> stories that scare me. Like you ferret can go there and catch
diseases
> and stuff. Has anyone been to one? Are they really as bad as I
read? Or
> are the pretty much safe?
>
> Thanks Again
> Joy