Message Number: SG8168 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-03-06 22:03:02 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] pretreatment for vaccinations
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20040306220302.1062.qmail@web21401.mail.yahoo.com>

Hi, Linda, and everyone else,

--- Linda Iroff <linda.iroff@oberlin.edu> wrote:
> I have heard that pretreatment with antihistimines
> (such as benedryl) was preferable to pretreatment
> with steroids (such as dexamethasone).

I believe our vet would agree with that. He only uses
dexamethasone where there is a history of a severe
anaphylactic reaction. In Nyssa's case her reaction
was life threatening.

> While the steroid is better at preventing/reducing
> reactions, it could also reduce the immune response
> that is the whole point of the vaccination.

I don't know if this is true or not.

You know, honestly, in the case of the rabies
vaccination I'm not sure I care very much. The
chances of one of my ferrets contracting rabies is
minimal. However, if they play nip at someone and
it's reported as a "bite" an unvaccinated ferret will
be killed where I live. A vaccinated ferret will be
quarantined instead. Also, in the adjacent county
where I used to live, a rabies vaccination was
required by law.

All the best,
Caity and the seven wonder weasels

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