From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2010-12-17 14:50:27 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Terrible Reaction to Distemper Injection
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi, Cindy,
What you are describing is anaphylactic shock, the most severe type of
vaccine reaction. I've seen it twice in 13 years with my ferrets,
once with Nyssa when she was one year old and once with Podo when he
was eight. In both cases they reacted almost immediately after
vaccination, had bloody stool and vomit and then collapsed. Both
reactions were in response to rabies vaccines and were considered life
threatening.
Podo swelled up like a balloon and his paw pads and nose turned bright
red. He had difficulty breathing as well. He was kept by our vet in an
oxygen tent during the early part of recovery. Nyssa had the bloody
stool and vomit but didn't have the other symptoms Podo showed. Our
vet at the time gave them epinephrine, dexamethasone, subcutaneous
fluids and oxygen. Podo was actually kept in an oxygen tent for a
time after his reaction.
I read that you took Mollie home already. Both Podo and Nyssa
recovered pretty quickly. Having survived the initial shock Mollie
should be fine from all I've read and heard. It's the time
immediately after the reaction that is critical.
Due to age and health problems he developed later in life we never
vaccinated Podo again. In Nyssa's case we just couldn't do that
considering that rabies vaccinations are mandatory here. Our vet used
a four day regimen of injected dexamethasone to prevent a recurrence
and she was vaccinated for the following few years without problems.
She'd be sleepy for a while after but that was it. There are details
in the archives if anyone is interested.
Hopefully Mollie has recovered by now.
The usual disclaimer applies: I am not a vet. I don't even play one
on TV. I'm just another ferret owner who has seen what you have seen
with Mollie not once but twice. It scared the heck out of me both
times.
All the best,
Caity and the dynamic duo
Chin Soon and Zephyr
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