From:
katharine@nettally.com
Date: 2002-09-27 23:18:07 UTC
Subject: RE: Distemper Vaccinations
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <16492643.1033168687610.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Sukie is exactly right.
I'm getting way out of my league here but here's how I understand it. The first milk from a lactating mother is rich in antibodies (colostrum). The antibodies are only passed during the first 24 (may be 48) hours. This is when the protective antibodies are given to the babies. After that, they don't receive any additional protection. Therefore, when they wean isn't important. What is important is when the protection wears off. I believe what I'm reading is that it is at 6-8 weeks of age.
This is why so many newborns don't make it. We have yet to find the "perfect" colostrum for them. Many of them don't receive those important newborn antibodies. Some people use goat's colostrum for this in wildlife rehab.
And, that's the extent of my limited knowledge.
Katharine
Danee wrote:
> I am not a vet, but I thought that the maternal antibodies were passed on, in part, through the mother's milk, and therefore, when they wore off was dependent on when the kits stopped nursing.