Message Number: SG6549 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukie crandall
Date: 2003-11-06 22:32:17 UTC
Subject: DIY ferret flu shots?
To: megfire1115@hotmail.com, ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-id: <138139BE-10A9-11D8-8451-000A95CD182C@optonline.net>

I have not heard of influenza shots for ferrets, though I have heard of
some adoptees who had previously been the test subjects used to develop
the shots for humans who were said to have had that result.

Rabies shots MUST be given by vets and ONLY the type USDA approved for
use in ferrets (IMRAB3) may be given to ferrets. I think that you are
thinking of distemper shots. Even then the type which has the least
chance of causing anaphylactic reactions (Merial's Purevax CD vaccien
for ferrets) is not available to non-vets.

For ferrets it is always best to have vaccines done by vets. There is
too high a rate of anaphylactic reactions to risk vaccines at home.
We've had something like 5 ferrets who reacted to one or more vaccines
in the last 21 years.