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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 15:43:47 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
I am working on switching to commercial raw and freeze-dried raw until I can get the hang of homemade raw and source out all the meats. I also just got the ferrets checked over by the vet and everything looked great minus some tartar on their teeth, plus Fender is missing half his canine (came to us with it missing) The vet wasn't to concerned about that. My question now is what can I use to brush their teeth? I haven't had luck with a cat toothpaste and the dog ones all have tea tree oil in them. Any suggestions?
Also another silly question, I am just going through the vaccination process now. My vet is doing the vaccinations two weeks apart to check for any reactions. Do you have to vaccinate ferrets every year? So far they did well with their distemper vaccination with no adverse affects.
I am new to ferrets so any advice is appreciated. I also have two dog and I sometimes go up North to a cottage in the warmer months not sure if this makes a difference in answers.
Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 17:08:41 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Apr 25, 2015 17:16:55 GMT -5
The only vaccine that is mandatory by law is rabies. How you vaccinate is up to you. Generally speaking vaccinating every year and pumping that much toxin into your ferret is considered too much but it's entirely up to you and your comfort zone (distemper is considered an annual and rabies is a 3 yr). There have been a number of discussion on this forum about vaccines, it's a personal and often volatile discussion. One thing to remember if you're going to vaccinate (rabies and distemper) in the same year, please make sure you put at least 2 months between the two vaccines. Both are major vaccines and putting them too close together could cause a reaction to either. Personally, I only vaccinate if crossing boarders ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 18:11:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice, I will call the vet and reschedule there rabies shot to next month . I really appreciate the advice! I am open to any advice on vaccines, I would be interested in hearing all opinions but don't want to start a heated conversation.
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Post by Heather on Apr 25, 2015 19:51:21 GMT -5
Ask anything you like. Things are less likely to boil up on the forum...takes longer and easier to control, so if you have questions ask. Don't not ask just because it might cause some flack ciao
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Post by Sherry on Apr 25, 2015 20:03:12 GMT -5
In this board is a sub board titled vaccines. Tons of info in there
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 20:21:34 GMT -5
:heehee:
I do not do vaccines either except my biter who get her nails clipped by vet tech. She only gets rabies because of the 10 day quarantine in NC if an animal breaks skin without one. But i am going to forego it this year because they say she is a good girl(fingers crossed). yea, I do not like vaccines either. If they r not in contact with a rabid animal, they r not going to get rabies.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 21:50:37 GMT -5
Thanks everyone I am going to look up the thread and see what info I can get. I have only had dogs who get vaccines every year and didn't even think of not doing this with the ferrets. I worry about distemper because I work with dogs and distemper is airborne and I worry I could carry it home, is that a thing or something I made up?
Thanks for the great info!
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Post by Heather on Apr 26, 2015 0:31:55 GMT -5
No. You've not dreamed it up. You can carry it home on your clothes or shoes. The problem is over vaccinating is as lethal as undervaccinating, eventually the immunity just shuts down and refuses to recognise the disease anymore. If you're really concerned about distemper, might I suggest getting a titre done instead. You can't boost an immunity, your body either recognises and sets up the defence or not. Giving a vaccine every year isn't going to make the body recognise the disease any more than if it's only given once. Most vaccines are good for the life of your pet (5 to 7 yrs is the most common)...you don't have to keep reminding the body of something it already knows. The thing to remember is that you never vaccinate a sick animal and in ferrets many of the chronic diseases are immunity based. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 9:22:11 GMT -5
This is slightly off topic, but are distemper vaccines even available again??I just went for their annual check up and our vet said it's still unavailable (he was getting it from a vet office in Toronto for a bit who still had stock, but now they are out as well). I'm in Canada, so I don't know about the US.
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Post by Heather on Apr 26, 2015 10:44:09 GMT -5
No...you have to use a puppy vax (see the AFA site for the right vaccine...it is unfortunately a double parvo and distemper). The ferret only vaccine will probably never go back into production (not worth the money to produce it). It has been out of production for over 2 yrs now. I just looked this up...and I don't know if they've not updated their site???not likely but noted that this claims it's available. Check it out, if you're interested in vaccinating your ferret and in Canada. My understanding is that they've not been able to make good product in over 2 yrs. merialce.naccvp.com/product/view/1182076ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 11:17:02 GMT -5
I just saw my vet last week and she said that she had purchased the ferrets vaccinations for me from a clinic I'm in Toronto not sure if that helps answer your question. Thanks for the info im thinking I will probably do one round of rabies and distemper then maybe a distemper vaccine next year and then leave it completly as your probably right that they have enough antibodies as this point.
Thanks!
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Post by msav on Apr 26, 2015 12:14:47 GMT -5
IMO
I always do distemper titers and only give distemper vaccines if they are low. It costs more but that way I know I am not over vaccinating.
you will have to find a vet that does titers though.
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Post by crazylady on Apr 26, 2015 12:28:52 GMT -5
Hi I only give one distemper vaccine in my ferrets lifetime I figure its been put in hasn't been used so why overload the body with more ( I think of my kids they only got one set of shots as babies too so why are my ferrets different lol ) as for the tooth cleaning I mix bonemeal or ground up egg shells or even cuttlefish bone with a little olive oil the fine particles in the bone meal / egg shells polish off the tartar and they don't mind the taste ! hope this helps take care bye for now Bev
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Post by raynebc on Apr 26, 2015 18:49:48 GMT -5
Is it worth getting distemper shots for Marshall ferrets since they get initial shots before reaching the pet store? I emailed Merial about 4.5 months ago asking if they ever intend to manufacture the ferret-specific vaccine and they never answered, so I emailed them again yesterday. I doubt they'll give any more than their standard, lousy "Merial is working to resolve the situation" non-answer though.
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