From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2001-12-28 16:45:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 529
In a message dated 12/28/01 9:19:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:
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?
Absolutely. You'd be surprised at the number of people who will get
a ferret from the pet store, hear that it had it's first distemper
shot, and assume that is all it needed. With an unknown history,
it's always safest to do two boosters in an adult ferret, a couple
of weeks apart.
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?
If they have never had the distemper shot in the past, they should
get two - otherwise one is sufficient.
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).
If you are used to the big boys, a little girl can be disconcerting.
One of my females is about three and a half pounds - she's big for
a girl. Most of the female ferrets that I see are less than two
pounds and many of them are just over a pound. If she's healthy
acting, not skinny (just small) eating and drinking normally - just
cherish your little girl!
Dr. Ruth
*****************************************
Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.