Message Number: YG9590 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Robin Sinex
Date: 2001-12-28 16:30:00 UTC
Subject: Adopted ferrets & shots

I adopted all three of my ferrets from either Animal Control (Nevyn) and
the local ferret shelter (Rhodry & Brangwyn), and have extreamly limited
knowlege of their previous medical history. Nevyn had been a stray, so I
had no history on him what-so-ever. The other two had had their rabies
shots, but the shelter mom hadn't been able to vaccinate for canine
distemper (a combo of cost and a significant number of her charges
reacting poorly to the shot). Nevyn was my first ferret, so in the face
of an unknown shot history, my vet thought it best to give him shots as if
he were a kit. Was this the proper course of action?

I also need to get Distemper shots for Rhodry & Brangwyn -- should they
have shots as if they were kits, or shots as if it were simply time for
the vaccine to be renewed?

Also, the shelter mom said that Rhodry may be adrenal, so I know I need to
talk to the vet about that, but I'm not sure if Brangwyn's small size is
just due to her being female and I'm not used to dealing with girls, or if
there could be a medical issue involved. Or if it's simply in her nature
to be small. Whatever the case, she's small enough that she's slipped out
of two different brands of belled collars & currently goes through play
time "in stealth mode," as I haven't yet found where she lost her collar.
Is small size a possible indicator of a health concern? All three ferrets
are around 2 1/2 years old (at best guess).

Robin Sinex.
Nevyn, Rhodry & Brangwyn