From:
"Big Lick Ferret Hospice"
Date: 2005-05-14 12:42:56 UTC
Subject: Along the Vacc question threads
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <13905160.1116089079787.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
Our ferret club members primarily use two ferret knowledgeable Veterinarians in
our area. I have been to both and they are wonderful! But their giving of vaccines are
different in that one will administer both distemper & rabies at the same visit and
the second does not (to my knowledge). On two separate occasions different ferrets
from different homes experienced reactions to the distemper vacc at the doctor that
does not administer the two at the same visit. We are checking into the type/lot info
for our records and will prompt the doctor to make sure the reactions have been
reported to the proper authorities.
The question was raised with Doc #2 about the lot being contaminated in some way
and he said that the brand was the same but were purchased months apart. Again
raising the question about lot sizes. Could that still be the issue? Another point
raised was the possible genetic connection between the two ferrets. IF they were
somehow related (very difficult to ascertain because of separate rescue
circumstances) could there be a genetic predisposition to reactive behaviors?
At the symposium in St. Louis the panel vet's said to never administer both rabies &
distemper at the same visit. Why is that? In the past the majority of my group HAD
been vaccinated with both during the same visit and I now have raised my concern
with that Vet, yet we have been lucky enough to never have had a reaction. She was
also quick to state that even with the rabies vaccine & certificate as proof, if the
ferret does bite a "pissy" person (pissy = will cause problems with authorities about
being bitten) that the shot is not "recognized" as a preventative and the person bit
could still press the issue to have the ferret put down & the test done. PLEASE SAY
THAT AIN'T SO!!!
Now I'm a very worried shelter mom!
Debbie