From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-01-08 01:11:41 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: should I vaccinate elderly ferret for distemper
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I have enrolled mine in Dr. Heller's study.
I recently adopted a ferret surrendered to our rescue organization.
She's a fear biter and just turned 1 year-old in December, not
current on her vaccinations. I went with the recommendation that she
should at least have her first adult vaccination. My vet gave her
Benadryl along with the Distemper vaccination, I waited the required
40 minutes in the clinic. 2 hours later at home - she showed a
reaction. I didn't panic because she had been given the Benadryl and
I reasoned it should pass. By the following morning she was limp and
passing blood. The Emergency clinic was closing in 10 minutes and my
vet was off that day (Xmas Eve) - no other veterinary clinic I called
would see her. Thankfully the clinic tracked down my vet after I
called them and told them tearfully that if she died they would be
responsible.
The point of this story is that even with the Benadryl my little
sprite had a reaction, and she was young and healthy. Now I have
since learned that Dex along with Benadryl is what is normally
given. Hindsight is always great - I'll know for the next time - if
there ever is going to be a next time.
I would strongly suggest having the titers done, which can put your
mind at ease and not put your senior at risk for a reaction.
If the worry is possible exposure to the vaccine outdoors - why not
carry him or put him in a pet stroller?
A side note - my vet, who is an Exotics Specialist rarely vaccinates
for either rabies or distemper. He will if a person insists on it,
however, he has never encountered or heard of a case of rabies in a
ferret in our area of Canada, and only heard of one case of distemper
in a ferret in Newfoundland about 7 years ago. Whereas he's had
several reactions in ferrets from the distemper vaccines, my recent
little one the worst he's seen, more frightening because of the
delayed reaction.
Tressie
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Joanne Seamans" <moxie17@...>
wrote:
>
> I postponed the vet appt. until next week because of inclement
> weather, but I'm wondering if I should vaccinate Nexus for
distemper.
> He is 7 years, 4 months old and has insulinoma. If he is still
around
> in the spring, I plan on taking him outside. He is not very active.
> Sleeps a lot but eats his soup well. He is on medication. I plan
on
> getting him vaccinated unless someone has a good reason not to.
> Thanks.
>
> [Moderator:
> How about have a titer done and make your choice based
> on that combined with your vet's advice about how much
> distemper is in your immediate area? At the IFC Symposium
> Dr. Heller said that there may be a correlation between
> vaccine reactions and having titer levels that are very high
> already. Doing the titer levels would help the study on
> canine distemper vaccines and ferrets and would tell you
> if your ferret may already have enough protection on board.
>
> See:
> http://www.ferret.org/news/07-april-titer_study.html
>
> and, please, try to have as much detail (including age, gender,
> when last vaccinated, etc. on the forms and also have them
> go to Dr. Heller for the compilation]
>
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