From:
tansy
Date: 2001-09-03 12:31:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: Vaccine and dexamethasone
Patty, I can't speak about other vets, but mine uses dex
immediately on the onset of a reaction for its
anti-immflammatory action (not in pretreatment). And while
the number of reactions between myself and the shelter I
work with is close to triple digits (yeah, a LOT of
ferrets <g>), we have never lost a ferret to a reaction.
Personally, I believe it's because we use the 3 drugs
together as soon as a reaction starts.
Whether the dex reduces the effectiveness of the vaccine I
can't say, but if the animal doesn't live after a reaction
it's kind of a moot point.
tansy
> The only caution I would add is that dexamethasone is a
steroid
> and immunosuppresant, my concern is that you are giving
> a vaccine and need the immune system to respond in order
> to get the desired effect. So, dexamethasone before or
> right after the shot may decrease the immune response
and
> not give you the level of antibody you need to protect
the ferret.
>
> It is just a chance, but don't want to give others the
idea that
> steroid use is standard of care premedication before
vaccines
> or even shortly after. I am sure it is reserved for the
extreme cases.
>
> ( I know Katharine was just responding to another post,
just don't have
> that post handy)
>
> Patty
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