|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 20:35:27 GMT -5
What is all your opinions on vaccinations for ferrets? I am sure Flower is not utd on them. Are they actually useful? are there lots of side effects? which ones do they actually really need and which ones are given just because? I know rabies need booster shots right? also distemper? Ugh there is just so much to learn about these little guys and girls, but I am jus enthralled with Flower and want to make sure she is well taken care of
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 13, 2011 20:47:28 GMT -5
It's very much a personal choice. I now only vaccinate at about 5-6 months of age(giving time for maternal antibodies to wear off), and one booster for each a year later. Studies have been finding most vacc's now last about 7 years. And by that time, they are too old for vaccinating anyway. Others prefer not to risk the chance of a reaction. And the risk is high enough that most vets give benedryl prior to shots. Also, I know mine insists rabies and distemper be minimum 3 weeks apart, again to reduce the risk of a reaction.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 20:54:19 GMT -5
But, like someone said in the playdates thread, If I want Flower to have play dates I should vaccinate??
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Nov 13, 2011 21:09:38 GMT -5
Do your homework (I'm not being rude, only you can weigh your risks and decide what you're willing to risk and the only way you can do that is to know what a vaccine is and does and what it doesn't...you might be surprised most people aren't aware)....You need to know not about the individual vaccines but about what vaccines do and what the diseases are. Ferrets get distemper and rabies. Rabies is the only one that is usually mandatory by law (most states, you will have to look that one up for where you are). They stopped making the ferret distemper vaccine and now you get to use a multi created for dogs. The distemper vaccine is the one most likely to kill your little one. The reaction rate is somewhere around 60% from mild discomfort to total anephelactic shock and death. I would be tempted to have your little one titred. Supposedly, if the titre is high enough you won't have to give your little one a distemper vaccine. I don't vaccinate, most of my little ones are sick (you never vaccinate a sick animal...vets sometimes forget this, but it's written on the pamphlet that comes with the vaccine). This is part of doing hospice, having sickies...so you learn how to protect them and why you don't vaccinate an immune impared animal. What I choose to do, isn't what some people do, which is why you have to look behind the fear and the hype and look for real information. Distemper kills, swiftly and silently...and very horribly. It's an air born virus but just because you vaccinate doesn't mean that you ferret won't get it, it will....it just means that your ferret has a very slim chance of surviving it...that's all. Keep asking questions but if you're really interested in vaccinations and what they really are and how they work, sign up to one of the non-vaccine lists. Some are extreme and very militant but they have information that is very interesting to read. Good luck in your journey....it can be quite enlightening ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 21:19:24 GMT -5
Thanks! I honestly never thought of ever vaccinating a ferret but it was an interesting point brought up about play dates... What is titering??
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Nov 13, 2011 22:35:52 GMT -5
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003333.htmThis gives you an overview and it's for humans but it's fairly clear and what the species is isn't important, the response is the same. There is controversy around the use of the titer in that there is no real consensus if there is any response does that mean that the body recognizes the virus/bacteria or does it have to be above a certain number. Theoretically, any response should be acceptable, as the high end responses imply a recent response to a assault on the immune system, while a low response means that the body recognizes the attack but hasn't mounted a recent incident. The last time I checked this method was also quite expensive (not sure why this is?) at least more expensive than getting a vaccine....thus why most people would sooner vaccinate than not when confronted with the issue. I hope that helps a little. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 22:36:44 GMT -5
This is my take and I've made this after thinking very hard about this issue.
I choose to vaccinate only for distemper, once, at approx. 6 months or older. Baby have maternal antibodies given from momma, and these cancel out the effect of a vaccinate. This is why a kit series is given, to make sure the vaccine "takes".
I chose not to vaccinate for rabies. Unlike distemper (which is airborne and easily transferred), rabies is not as easily transferred. It is transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal. So for me, the risk of vaccinate was higher than the risk of a rabid animal biting my strictly indoor pet. If I WERE to vaccinate for rabies, I would do so once and leave it at that.
A titer is a test that checks for the levels of the specific antibody in the body. A high titer usually indicates that a high level of antibodies are present. The problem is that antibodies aren't produced in everyday life - they are a reaction to an attack. So a low titer response does NOT mean that you baby isn't protected. Unless they've recently encountered an attack, titers will usually be low. There are other types of immunity that titers do not test for (like macrophages) - and this means that it is not a full picture of immunity.
The best use for a titer is to test the response after a vaccine is given, to ensure that a antibody response was created.
Anyway, that's my stance. This is a pretty controversial topic and the decision to and to not is very very personal.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 2:59:40 GMT -5
here is my experience with the distemper vac.....i got Bandit his last kit distemper which that was his 3rd he had a very severe reaction to the shot i almost lost him he was trying to get his breath and pawing at him mouth at the vets office they gave him a benedryl shot to help but when i got him home he went to go potty he had blood in his stool and pee and he was walking on the top of his back paw so i had to take him to the er vet she had to give him a steriod shot i think it was pred and sent me home with a bottle of pred and it helped him he is back to his normal self no long term affects for him....i wont do the distemper vac for Bandit again because of his reaction to it.....where i live at rabies vac isnt required for ferrets so i never gave him that shot he dont go outside to get it.....
if and when i do get another ferret i will do the kit distemper but after the 3rd one they wont get anymore well actually it 2 shots because they already come with one shot of the distemper shot when they leave the farm....just thought i would share my experience with it but its your choice to make
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 6:32:29 GMT -5
Wow I'm glad your little guy is ok! See this is why I asked. Small animals are just soo sensitive to things put in their body, and you never really know if they are going to have a reaction or not.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 8:04:54 GMT -5
I got titer'd after I contracted the mumps, it cost $428USD. I don't know if it would be different for a ferret but it gives you a ballpark. The decision to vaccinate is a very personal one. The first step is to find out what is required by your city/state/township because there can be different requirements at the different jurisdiction levels. If you travel, check what is required in the states you visit often. My Mom lives in another state and we visit often so I checked to make sure it wasn't a "ferret free" area and that our vacc matched their requirements, just in case you run into the uneducated. Not that you would ever run into uneducated ppl If you vaccinate Sherry's point is extremely important. Vaccinations should be several weeks apart, so that if a reaction does occur you know which one caused it and can avoid it in the future. It will also be documented. IME most vets won't charge a second office visit fee for the second vacc appointment but that depends on your vet. Also, make sure to hang out in the vets office for 20-30 minutes after the injection in case a reaction does occur. And make copies of the vacc record, main one at home, copy in the car or with the travel kennel etc. Again, just in case. ~Kelli
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 14, 2011 11:28:07 GMT -5
Actually, if they react to one, also stop having the other done, as the odds of reaction to that one have just increased tremendously.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 14:52:02 GMT -5
Where I live, we don't have that luxury sadly, there has to be documentation of reactions to both. I wish we could tho! If you refuse required vaccinations the Vet can refuse to see you since they would be an accomplice to your law-breaking and be held negligent. So, a lot of the decisions can be made for you ~Kelli
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Nov 14, 2011 16:30:26 GMT -5
Where I live, we don't have that luxury sadly, there has to be documentation of reactions to both. I wish we could tho! If you refuse required vaccinations the Vet can refuse to see you since they would be an accomplice to your law-breaking and be held negligent. So, a lot of the decisions can be made for you ~Kelli There is a small piece of paper that your vet should be able to sign for you called a waiver. It absolves them of the responsibility of the lack of vaccines. A severe allergic response to a key vaccine would allow your wee one to have one of these waivers. It is negligent of a vet to threaten or coerce a client to take a vaccine that she or he has treated for a lifethreatening reaction. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 16:34:09 GMT -5
i have to update my ferrets shots!! especially if they are going to be playing outside during spring! I know you HAVE to have rabies shots as with almost all pets but i am not sure about the others.. what do you guys think? oh... how much do all of the vaccines cost per ferret?
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Nov 14, 2011 17:29:16 GMT -5
As mentioned there are only 2 vaccines that are used on ferrets. Rabies, often mandatory and distemper which is optional. As for costs....that depends entirely on your vet, there are no specific charges. These are set by the vet you`re using. ciao
|
|