From:
"kazpat1@juno.com"
Date: 2005-05-14 17:57:18 UTC
Subject: Vaccines Reactions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20050514.105815.16051.7940@webmail28.lax.untd.com>
False. Distemper is not long lived virus. It lasts about 8 hours ( although I have heard up to a few weeks) on objects. Then it dies. Plus if you expose it to light, bleach, parvocide, etc. you can kill it right off.
It does last a lot longer in an infected animal, that will continue to shed it until that animal dies.
I hear ADV has been found after 2 years on a cage? so that may be what you are thinking about. Of course, that doen't mean you can't get rid of the virus with proper disinfection.
So, if the distemper virus gets into your home on your clothes or shoes, but doesn't infect any animal ( because they were all vaccinated well), then it is gone in a short time- you wouldn't even know it was there. If it gets into your home, infects your animals- it takes about 45 days to be sure it is gone. Meaning, that it may take up to 45 days ( in my personal experience was 21 days) to know that no new ferret is infected and the virus is gone. If you don't have any other ferrets in the home. Then I would say it would be safe to bring in a new ferret, after properly disinfecting, in a month or two.
I personally waited 3 months from when my last ferret was ill and the others were fine, and did bleach, parvocide everything! I did not throw out cages, I did throw out a throw rug,stuffed animals, pillows and other items I felt I couldn't properly disinfect ( although not sure I had to or not, just for peace of mind).
Patty
-- autumn_whispers2me <autumn_whispers2me@yahoo.com> wrote:
I've heard, and this could be totally false, that once distemper hits a household you
can't have pets in the home for something like 2yrs. Is this true, an old wives tale??
I've been told this by a few people in my lifetime and have never really asked a vet if
it's true, and my boyfriend just told me he'd heard the same thing.