From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-08-22 20:29:23 UTC
Subject: RE: CD Vaccine for Ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7722720.1124742563917.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Okay, this is important to understand:
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VACCINE REACTION AND A VACCINE RESPONSE
(Aren't I so academic yet melodramatic today?)
Vaccine reaction: the passed out, red ferret was having an anaphylactic allergic reaction. These are life-threatening and they are most definitely a reaction. Epi, fluids, steroids, antihistamines, heated incubator for some, etc. needed pronto, esp. epi which is the first line med for anaphylactic reactions (says she with the problem in multiple human family members as well as several past ferrets). This ferret should not have that particular vaccine again. What happened is that the wrong part of the ferret's immune system last time (not this time) misidentified part of the shot as a particularly bad invader so the immune system over-responds badly on re-exposure and it is that immune system response which is life threatening.
Vaccine response: it is not only expected that a ferret will feel out of sorts for a while after a vaccination, but it is a GOOD sign that the vaccine is doing what it should. You want the immune system to recognize the segments of the Canine Distemper virus so that if the ferret has an exposure the body will immediately kill it off before it can propagate. That means you want an immune system response -- just the right type of immune system response. Now, the thing is that immune system responses simply don't feel good. Much of the lousy way anyone feels when sick is not from what the disease is doing but is from what the immune system is causing to take place to fight off the disease.
Do NOT worry about a ferret not feeling great after a vaccine if it is just being a bit "off"; you are not going to get immunity without that showing up in most individuals who don't hide it well.
Combo vaccines have multiple considerations: with more in them there is more to cause a reaction, they have not been tested for effectiveness, etc.