From:
Danee
Date: 2007-07-29 19:58:52 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Ferret with lump (size of marble between shoulder blades)
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
"Kimba" kmbrlyk@cfl.rr.com wrote on 7/29/2007, 7:29 AM:
> I took her to the vet and he did
> a smear and sent it off for pathology. It came back as a sarcoma. I
> believe sarcomas can happen in cats and ferrets and are caused by a
> previous vaccine. Correct me if I am wrong please.
Yes, sometimes a cancer can form at an injection site. I don't think
it has been proved to happen in ferrets, although I have seen it in 2 of
my own ferrets, plus one of my vets had it happen in one of her ferrets.
It has definitely been shown to happen in cats. The type of cancer
involved is, unfortunately, a very aggressive one that metastasizes quickly.
There is a way to avoid this, though. It only seems to happen if the
vaccinations are given Sub-Q. If the vaccinations are given IM the
problem appears to be avoided.
My vet now gives all vaccinations IM.
For me, the threat of Distemper is too great to not vaccinate. We have
a lot of distemper in the wild animals that are around my home, and
since it is a disease that can be tracked inside, I am not willing to
chance it. I do think that yearly vaccinations are most likely not
necessary, though, but until more testing and studies have been done, we
don't know how often we need to revaccinate to be safe.
I also get my ferrets vaccinated for rabies, but not because I worry
they will be exposed. I know that the chances of that happening are
very slim. However, on the off chance one of my kids escapes the house,
or bites someone, I want them protected from being euthanized just to
prove they do not have rabies.
--
Danee DeVore
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://www.ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com
You can help fight ADV!
Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/
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