From:
"autumn whispers"
Date: 2008-07-19 16:48:39 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Vaccines?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I'm sorry this is long, but I recently had to weigh the odds and make a
decision on vaccinations. I chose to vaccinate, and here's why...
When it comes to making difficult choices, it's sometimes best to look at
things scientifically and statistically, rather than emotionally. And we
all are emotional about our fuzzies, becauset they're part of our families.
What I mean by this is, getting the information necessary to make a solid,
informed decision on which is MORE dangerous and risky, the vaccines, or
chance of your ferret(s) catching distemper, is important, if not crucial.
A very sick or ill or very old ferret may not handle the vaccinations well
at all and the risk could be greater for them than catching distemper, but
we have to make the decision either way.... informed.
I personally do not know the statistics, which option is a greater risk than
the other, but it would seem to me that as contagious as distemper is, and
how little the chances are that your ferret(s) will survive the disease if
he/she gets it, that perhaps, just my opinion, opting for vaccines may be
the safest option. But that's not a call "I" can make for anyone else, of
course. But I have heard that distemper is a terrible way for any animal to
die.
We have to choose the lesser of the 'evils' as we see them. That's all we
can do. But it's our responsibility to know the facts, to know the odds,
and to make that decision, informed.
You can pre-treat with Benedryl prior to vaccinating, and you can make
arrangements to be home and ready to go should a reaction occur. But...
with distemper... you're dealing with an invisible and deadly killer that
can get into your home, no matter how careful you are. Several have already
stated that it can come in on your clothing, and all it takes is a sneeze or
cough, etc. from an infected animal and it could be on your clothing or
anywhere on your body. Going into one of the large pet stores that allow
people to bring their pets is a risk, too. I've seen many a tiny puppy in
those stores, and not all breeders are responsible, so the puppy may or may
not have been initially vaccinated. You could walk into one of those stores
to buy your ferret bedding, food, treats, or toys... and come home with far
more than you bargained for.
We had a local pet store that had several puppies who were infected with
distemper. They didn't know, and those who took home puppies didn't know.
But they could have went from the pet store to another pet store to buy
food, bedding, and so on.....before heading home.
Just a thought. As for me, I opted to vaccinate.
Ella
On Sat, Jul 19, 2008 at 10:22 AM, Ashley Schultz <momtofuzzies@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> This is true...but what would I do if I take my babies to get vaccinated
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