From:
"US7"
Date: 2005-05-14 03:43:08 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth]Re: Vaccines Reactions
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <3154093.1116053595396.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
I would argue also that if you saw a ferret die from the vaccine that you'd do most
anything to avoid seeing that. In the balance, I've heard of more ferrets affected by
the vaccine than the disease. Luckily, I have personally seen neither.
I have a problem with vaccines, even my own. The one and only time I ever took the
flu vaccine, I had the worst flu I've ever had in my life. I found out later that if you
already were infected with the flu, which I obviously was (and not showing
symptoms), that the flu shot could accelerated the process and compromise your
immune system. I unfortunately passed the flu to all of my ferrets. I lost two ferrets
to it and had two permanently disabled, not from the flu, but from the secondary
bacterial infections which followed. Now, I know that I'm also responding in an
emotional and encapsulated manner. I guess it's what we all do, so please don't take
this as any kind of flame. I'm just trying to pull some logic out of my own
experiences and the experiences of others.
I'm just a layperson who owns ferrets, and I understand the severity of canine
distemper. However, I have never vaccinated my ferrets. I think you have to weigh
the risks in a pragmatic manner. As I have stated above, I've heard of more ferrets
affected by the vaccine than the disease. I would be totally willing to hear an
argument against my thinking on this. I would reiterate autumn_whispers2me's
question. I am operating on instinct here, which sometimes goes against what
science tells us is true. Lots of times science does not always get it right the first
time, or the second time. What we have left is instinct.
Roary
Albuquerque, NM