Bonbon
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Posts: 194 
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Post by Bonbon on Oct 21, 2015 10:48:40 GMT -5
So a quick question for everyone. I am needing to take Bonbon to his vist vet visit since getting him for his rabies and distemper vaccines. But i have called several vets and i am debating between two offices, but each say the distemper vaccine hasnt been able to be ordered for quiet some time. Im rather nervous about this. What happens to him if he doesnt receive it? will it cause issues? i was thinking of getting another ferret and now im hesitant.
Then one of the vets suggested giving him the dog distemper vaccine and i was like nooo....But now im nervous he will get the virus from the puppy who is still to young for her first shots. Also I know that here on HFF you don't like marshalls ferrets, and i didnt know about them prior to buying mine, but does Marshall's ferrets give a distemper vaccine and how many? Also Breeders do you give your kits shots and where do you get the vaccines? one of the vet offices said i could purchase the vaccine and give it to them to store just for my ferret on site. Im beyond confused on this stuff.
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Post by Sherry on Oct 21, 2015 11:09:57 GMT -5
What on earth makes you think we don't like Marshall's ferrets >  The mill, no. The ferrets are just ferrets and most of us have them. And no, the ferret tested distemper vaccine I believe is either not being made, or not being made just yet. Others are using the puppy distemper one I believe. |
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Bonbon
Junior Member
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Posts: 194
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Post by Bonbon on Oct 21, 2015 11:19:06 GMT -5
well i have read a lot about people not liking how marshall's ferrets are neutered and spayed and such, it just made it seem like you had a bad taste in your mouth about the company and i wasnt sure how many of you on the boards were ferret breeders or have gotten your jills and hubs from breeders that all. i was just saying that mine was a marshall's ferret and i hoped it didn't screw anyone's opinion in posting to my thread. i guess it was a silly thing to mention.
anywyas the puppy distemper vaccine wont harm the ferrets at all if thats whats being substituted? and should i still get him that vaccine then? i guess thats what im asking, should i get him the puppy vaccine at the vets or should i hold off? would it hurt him either way?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2015 12:06:22 GMT -5
We just don't like the Marshall company, not the ferrets. I believe in reputable and code of ethics breeding. Marshall's is a mill. They have no code of ethics breeding and they breed purely for profit.The whole point of breeding is to improve the breed/animal. The abuse and neglect that happens at mills is sickening. Plus, the food that Marshall's makes for ferrets? It's a joke. Marshall's cares nothing about the ferrets they create.
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Post by Heather on Oct 21, 2015 13:04:08 GMT -5
The poor ferret cannot help where he was born or the fact that he was treated no differently than a toaster oven but it's the company not the ferret or the ferrant that we judge. As long as you're aware of where your ferrets came from and how they were brought into the world is enough. From there it becomes choices. No, neither you nor your ferret will be judged harshly  As for the vaccine....the distemper vaccine Purevax distemper vaccine which is the only one that is accepted as a ferret vaccine has not been available for about 3 yrs now. Many who vaccinate have been using the puppy vaccine. The incidence of reaction is slightly higher, it also is a double up covering a disease that ferrets at this time do not get (parvo). According to their website Purevax is available in Canada....I've not heard of such and I don't know why a vaccine for ferrets would be available up here (where ferrets are not as big a pet as in the US) and not in the US. As for your Marshals ferrets, they've been given a distemper vaccine before they left the Marshals factory...it's useless and is a selling feature. As the mother's antibodies are still active when they're brutally descented and altered, the vaccine that they're given prior to shipping is useless. They're just too young for it to take. If you're going to vaccinate, make sure you plan to spend at least half an hour after the vaccine to make sure there is no severe reactions. Monitor your little one closely for the next 48 hrs for loose stools, lethargy, vomiting or anorexia. Some have noted severe reactions (bloody stools, severe bloody vomiting up to several hours after the vaccine) but this is rare. Do NOT give both rabies and distemper on the same day. The earliest you should be returning is 2 weeks, personally, I wouldn't return for at least a month. It's very hard on their immunity. ciao |
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Bonbon
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Posts: 194
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Post by Bonbon on Oct 21, 2015 13:43:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply heather, your information was very informative. But now my next question is, should I vaccinate since the ferret one is no longer available? The vet office said they rarely see the case so perhaps that's why they did away with the vaccines? Or should I still consider it? And since you. Said I shouldn't get to shots at the same time perhaps I'll skip it for his first visit and just get his rabies. I definitely want him to have that before I start looking at bring another ferret into the house.
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Post by Heather on Oct 21, 2015 14:48:26 GMT -5
It's going to be up to your comfort level. I've been studying vaccines and reactions for many years now. There is a ton of misinformation out there but you have to be comfortable with your choices and know why you made them.
Of the 2 diseases distemper or rabies, I would fear the distemper. It is easily spread, being that it can be carried in on clothing, shoes and hands. That being said even vaccinated ferrets once they contract it usually die. The vaccine gives them a fighting chance. It allows their bodies to recognise the disease. Despite that most die, and yes...vaccinated or not. Ferrets have even less a chance than any of the other animals that can contract this. Rabies....that is a vaccine given to pets for us. No matter what if your ferret is bitten by a diseased animal it will die, vaccinated or not. The one thought to keep in your mind is that ferrets never survive the disease long enough to pass it on. Ferrets get the "dumb" rabies...they curl up and in days they're dead. The only rabies vaccine that is recognised over here is the IMRAB 3. Most states and provinces require it by law. Again your choice....but don't use the vaccine just because you're getting another ferret. The rabies vaccine is against other animals, not ferrets. Get your vaccines for the right reason. As far as dangerous diseases...the most likely to cause an issue with your ferret....that will be distemper.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2015 18:01:55 GMT -5
One thing you can do--- and you may already know this, keep puppy away from dog parks and kennels ----maybe no walk in woods as not to come n contact with wild life droppings--fox, coyote--until after puppy has shots.
It was already too late, but I let my ferrets get around my pups right after they had their canine distemper shots,and my vet said that I should not do that--- so you may want to talk to vet about that. (Keeping ferrets away from pups who have just gotten shots).From what she said , it has not been proven they can get distemper, but she has a better safe than sorry approach.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2015 18:40:53 GMT -5
For me, the possible reaction from a distemper vaccine is not worth the small chance of my babies surviving it. Recent outbreaks in my state have all been far away, all of them at a Humane Society shelter in April. Before that, as far as I know, the last outbreak hit the raccoon population around WSU in 2010. Do some googling about recent distemper outbreaks in your area, weigh the risks.
Make your own decision, this is completely based on YOUR comfort levels and the safety of your babies. Talk to your vet about worries on reactions, outbreaks, and protocols.
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Post by Heather on Oct 21, 2015 19:38:59 GMT -5
One thing to remember is that the distemper vaccine sheds the virus. That's why it's suggested that you do not take your pup to the park or take it around unvaccinated pets. That being said, there is something called herd phenomenon. This is where the animals actual immunity registers and acknowledges the shed virus and if you were to do a titre then you would see a raised level I actually immunized my dog this way. I believe that you've got 3 or 4 days where the vaccine sheds off the virus and some vets will warn you about your pet being in the vicinity of sick or unvaccinated animals.
ciao
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Bonbon
Junior Member
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Posts: 194
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Post by Bonbon on Oct 21, 2015 22:29:17 GMT -5
Well my roommate is taking the puppy to the vet tomorrow because she has worms and now I'm even more freaked out because of what you said about other animals poop. And seeing how the dog isn't mine. I know not of her vaccination history prior to the adoption. Although bonbons and the puppy rarely interact. I will definitely talk to my vet about all of these concerns when I set up my appointment next week. I'm concerned about an allergic reaction from the puppy distemper but if that's what they are using as a substitute, I hope it's okay. Has anyone vaccinated their ferrets recently. Also does it matter if it's done on the proper week of age? Like example distemper 13 weeks, rabies 16 weeks? Because then he's already behind. Today was his 4 month birthday, and I knew he would need his rabies shot at this point. I hadn't realized I missed a distemper, but if that's more important than perhaps I'll get that shot first.
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Post by msav on Oct 21, 2015 23:11:45 GMT -5
I wrote marshalls asking about how they were able to give distemper vaccines if there were none available.
they replied and told me that they use a MLV mink distemper vaccine. I looked it up and found a few even one that was for mink and ferrets. I have no idea which one they use. Marshalls also recommended the use of the nobivac puppy DP for boosters.
Distemink
Febrivac® DIST is a live vaccine against distemper in mink and ferrets.
All of my ferrets have shown adequate titers with just a single booster for going on 7 years now. I choose to have the titers done instead of just annually blindly injecting a vaccine that they are already protected against..
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Bonbon
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Posts: 194
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Post by Bonbon on Oct 21, 2015 23:38:00 GMT -5
All of my ferrets have shown adequate titers with just a single booster for going on 7 years now. I choose to have the titers done instead of just annually blindly injecting a vaccine that they are already protected against.. What does this mean exactly? What's a titer? Did you use the puppy distemper vaccine? |
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Post by msav on Oct 22, 2015 10:05:04 GMT -5
Titer test show how much of the distempter vaccine is still in the ferrets system. I only give them a booster if they are low.
Every ferret I have gotten form the pets store had nonexistent titers. I have always given them their booster after I get them, generally at 2 1/2 months of age.
I get them titered yearly for the next 2 years if they hold onto the vaccine I get them titered every 2 years.
Every one of my ferrets have had held onto the vaccine pretty much for life.
I just wish they did titeres for Rabies. that way we would not have to over vaccinate our ferrets.
The last 3 ferrets I have the nobivac puppy dp to. They did not have a problem with it.
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Post by Sherry on Oct 22, 2015 10:24:07 GMT -5
As for age, it doesn't really matter. I usually wait until 5-6 months of age and do one of each, rabies and distemper(as Heather said, 2-4 weeks apart). That way I know maternal antibodies have worn off, and the vaccine is more likely to be effective.
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