From:
"Mike & Rita Morrett"
Date: 2009-07-30 19:08:25 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Rabies vaccine IMRAB 3
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
We took 2 hobs over to our vets last Thursday for their annual Rabies shots. All went well with no reactions. Saturday we took three girls over for their Rabies vaccinations. All three girls had severe reactions. One of the girls then passed away here at home. Dex and Benadryl was used on the three girls due to their reactions. We spent the entire morning at the vets to insure they recovered before we left. All three girls recovered. The girls along with the two hobs were also pre-treated with Benadryl an hour before their shots. The hobs are whole and are four years old. The girl's retired breeders, were three, four and five years old. Inky, our five year old girl that passed away was in excellent health.
It is our understanding Merial using IMRAB 3 for ferrets is also used on dogs and is good for three years. By Law ferrets must be vaccinated every year here in SC. We are over vaccinating our ferrets. The same hold true with distemper. Hopefully the work on titer studies Dr Heller and Dr Wagner are doing will resolve the distemper issue.
Are we seeing more reactions with IMRAB 3 in the past year or so. I think so, as many vets are now pre-treating prior to Rabies vaccinations.
Mike & Arita Morrett
[THE single most critical medication to give when an
anaphylactic reaction occurs is Epinephrine. As well
as Epi there are some weaker meds that can be given
such as steroids (like Dex) and antihistamines (like
Benedryl), fluids, etc.
There have been a number of studies -- in humans
especially -- on survival of an anaphylactic reaction.
The most essential things are to get care fast, and to
use Epi. That is why people carry anakits including
Epi injectors. The death rate increases substantially
without those precautions when an anaphylactic
reaction happens.
Although there once was a hypothesis that epi use
might help set the stage for some heart diseases there
is no evidence to support that whatsoever as of the
last time I asked a professor who is an allergist.
Just speaking as someone who is used to these
reactions in humans on both sides of the family and
in a handful of ferrets through the decades.
Reporting info:
Reporting vaccine reactions:
Report to the manufacturer. For IMRAB 3 that is Merial.
1-888-MERIAL-1
may still be the right phone number (or not)
Also, report federally. If the gov't gets too many reports it does
make sure manufacturers follow-up.
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/resources/pharmacobrochure.pdf
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/resources/vetadversedrug.pdf
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/resources/animaladverseevent.pdf
Center for Veterinary Medicine
1-888-FDA-VETS
Center for Veterinary Biologics
APHIS/USDA
1-800-752-6255
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vet_biologics/
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/default.htm
<http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/ReportaProblem/defa \ult.htm
--Moderator]
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