From:
"jessicaanne917"
Date: 2007-10-22 14:20:24 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:Rabies vaccination reaction
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Thanks very much for your response, Dr. Ruth.
> Personally, I no longer premedicate with Benadryl. I have heard of
several
> ferrets having a reaction to injectable Benadryl, actually, and I
was still
> seeing a fair number of reactions in ferrets that were premedicated
with it. The
> one exception to this is kits under six months of age, which I still
do use
> Benadryl in.
>
> What I do use in almost every ferret that I vaccinate is
dexamethasone, given
> subcutaneously fifteen to twenty minues prior to vaccination. I use
0.5 mg
> per lb of ferret, and have seen a vast reduction in the number and
severity of
> reactions since I started doing that.
I will definitely discuss premedicating with dexamethasone with my
vet. I didn't realize that ferrets could react to Benadryl before
this scary but educational experience.
> I also separate the vaccines by at least three weeks, and have my
clients
> remain in the office for at least half an hour, preferably longer.
I think that our "new and improved" vaccination plan will definitely
include a longer (maybe an hour?) wait at the office. I also think
that we're going to work toward the six-month separation between the
rabies and distemper vaccines, both to help avoid reactions and to
allow for at least two exams during the year.
> The other concern I have is that you state that the rabies
vaccination was
> given IM, or into the muscle. This is an incorrect way of
administering the
> vaccine, which should be given under the skin. Whether that had
anything to do
> with the reaction, I can't say, but it does not follow the label
guidelines for
> vaccination.
I read about this after the fact and was also wondering if it could
have had anything to do with the reaction.
> Grinding the teeth may be related to the reaction - the inflammation
caused
> in the gastrointestinal tract may simply be irritating to him, in
which case it
> should resolve fairly soon (carafate may help) or it may be related
to an
> ulcer.
Thankfully the teeth grinding has stopped, so I'm hoping that means
he's feeling a bit better. Thanks for the information!!
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