From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2011-06-21 02:11:41 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] distemper
To: FML List <ferret-l@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG>, fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Kevin, if you get a chance could you post the full numbers including survivor numbers and death numbers, please?
That way if i am wrong about the total who became ill you can correct me on that or any other essential points as needed. Feel free to correct me as needed; you are there, but I am not.
The first IMPORTANT point from this: any shelters or anyone who adopts or buys a ferret who has NOT had the full kit series -- and remember that many people incorrectly think that original farm vaccine is all that is needed and some pet stores encourage that fable -- NEED to provide TWO CD vaccines in series, not just one. That also means that a shelter which insists on vaccines before accepting ferrets NEEDS to be careful on this score, too. Again, see:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/15055
with Dr. Murray's recommendation on such ferrets:
> for adult ferrets I would suggest giving the distemper booster
> 3 weeks after the first dose. For kits I would give the distemper vaccine
> at 6, 9, 12, 15 weeks of age (ie every 3 weeks).
The problem is not the vaccine type, it's that the timing was just plain wrong for some of the ferrets since they had already been exposed, and too many ferrets had not had two CD vaccines instead of just one. It sounds like that is a common shelter mistake simply because many did not know better, but after this tragedy hopefully more will know and they will teach other shelters.
The second important thing to remember is that the treatment approach saved a number of ferrets, so Kevin and the others at that shelter are not only showing how to prevent problems but also how to save sick ferrets.
The third important thing is always remember that when rumors get passed a lot of innocent people get hurt. Statements wind up altered and misattributed (even sometimes invented by the rumor monger), and assumptions and accusations wind up made, including by third parties. Usually in that situation really the only people who are at TRUE FAULT are those who created the internet rumors. Of course, those who pass rumors along without also putting correcting information only worsening things for all. Meanwhile, people who just believe rumors need to mature a bit on that score, I'm afraid. Why anyone would pass along a rumor without checking with the principal people before mailing is beyond me. Maybe it is just that some people have not yet lived enough and learned, because it happens over and over again, every few years.
Don't hurt the innocent for blaming them for what others create, alter, add to, assume and then send to lists and fora, please. They tend to not be accurate on most aspects.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
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