From:
ahartnett@cox.net
Date: 2004-06-20 03:27:30 UTC
Subject: RE: vaccine reactions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5595966.1087702050638.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
The distemper reaction that was fatal was from fervac-d. He was pre-treated with Benadryl but the vet didn't wait the 15 minutes between injections. He had the reaction almost immediately - within 5 minutes. His heart stopped 3 times; the vet revived him only twice. He used epi and cortisone but don't know if he gave him more benadryl. He hadn't had the rabies shot yet.
The recent vaccine reaction was to Purevax. This vet gives Purevax and Rabies together with no pre-treatment. I told her that I wanted them separated but she said she does this all the time with Purevax and has had no problems. She has 14 ferrets of her own, so I thought she must be up-to-date with the protocol. This ferret had vomiting and diarrhea. The vet treated her with benadryl and gave her epi twice.
The most recent vaccine reaction one of my ferret's experienced was to the rabies vaccine. He had a severe reaction and hadn't had the distemper vaccine yet. This was with the same vet as above (I don't use the vet mentioned with the fatal reaction anymore). This time she pre-treated him with Benadryl and we waited 20 min. She still gives rabies with Purevax on the same day without pre-treatment to other clients however. He had vomiting, diarrhea, then the passed pure blood three times. He was treated with more benadryl (2 more doses), epi a few times and finally cortisone. When he was given the cortisone, there was marked improvement.
All of these reactions were within 5 minutes. I was still in the vet's office.
Author wrote:
> What TYPE of vaccine was used? Purevax is considered by a number of vets to have a lower rate of reactions.
> Were the vaccines separated by a few weeks when they were given?
> Was there pre-medication?
> What treatments were used for the reactions? Fluids, steroids, epi, oxygen, antihistamines, what?
> Death almost never happens, though with anaphylactic reactions there is always the risk. What were the conditions that death occured? Did they not have you stay in the hospital for 45 minutes of more after the shots to be safest?