Message Number: YG991 | New FHL Archives Search
From: ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2001-03-09 11:51:00 UTC
Subject: Re Vaccines was Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 47

In a message dated 03/08/01 10:02:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:

<< I think you raise some very interesting points about the vaccinations. We
dont immunize our children every year. Why do we immunize our pets so much?
Vetrinary hospitals would sure lose out on a lot of money if people didnt
bring their pets in for shots every year. Could that be the real reason
vets push vaccinations?
>>

Well from my point of view I "push" vaccinations because I'd rather vaccinate
than see the disease I'm vaccinating against. Vaccine charges in my practice
are fairly minimal, because my fee is for the exam, and I won't vaccinate an
animal that I feel is at risk for a problem occurring due to that vaccine
(meaning a sick animal). In people the vaccines are tested for duration of
immunity provided (ie, how long are our children protected). Animal vaccines
have been proven effective for minimum time frames (usually one year), but
not yet proven effective beyond that time frame. I suspect that they are
indeed effective in most animals for longer, but that has not been proven.
And honestly, I'd really rather not try to treat a ferret for distemper when
I could have prevented it.

Dr. Ruth
*****************************************
Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.