From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-08 20:04:04 UTC
Subject: RE: Distemper vaccination for ferret who has reacted to 2 different vaccines?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <258300.1115582644517.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
What vaccines a ferret reacts to vary MORE BY INDIVIDUAL. So, having one who reacted badly to a given vaccine does not necessarily translate to that vaccine being more dangerous for other ferrets.
I can understand your reticience given what happened to your lost one.
My question was in relation to this sentence:
>The following year, Bebo reacted mildly to the Purevax and recoverd quickly.
Yes, we have had two who had anaphylactic reactions to Galaxy. In recorded rates of reactions Purevax still is the safest, but it is often not available.
What really worries me, though, is that unless I missed it you nowhere mention some of the most essential ways to treat an anaphylactic shock reaction.
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MEDICATION TO PROVIDE WHEN AN ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK REACTION OCCURS IS EPINEPHREN.
Then supportive fluids, oxygen if needed (or even a respiratory stoma and intubation if needed), and steroids.
Antihistamines are the least important of the lot but if it is possible also get these in after the more essential things.
Anaphylactic shock is something we are very used to personally, not only from having had ferrets for 24 years but because of multiple family members who go into them. On my worst year by a wide margin I had 6 systemic reactions, but my closest call was with my first anaphylactic reaction whereas my husband's closest call was with his second one. Properly injected Epinephren immediately is ESSENTIAL! This might need to be repeated.
You need the falling blood pressure improved, the extreme loss of blood fluids to tissues (or out through the GI tract -- which can happen so fast that it carries along red blood cells) controlled and stopped, airway maintained or restored and excess fluids out of lungs, etc. Antihistamines just do not cut it for a full anaphylactic reaction.