Vaccines?

[Kyrie]

I have a quick question about the distemper vaccine. I've been doing a lot of reading (here and other places), and it seems like the best thing to do is to wait till my ferret is about 6 months old and vaccinate then. But exactly what should I expect him to be given at that time? Is it one shot, or a series of shots like a kit would have? 

[Deleted]

It's a single shot The series is given to cover the ferret in case maternal antibodies are present and cancel out the effects of the vaccine.

[Kyrie]

Thank you! I've also read a lot about how the vaccine really doesn't protect him anyway? If anyone could tell me more about this, that would be really helpful. From what I've read, if a vaccinated ferret comes in contact with distemper, chances are that he'll end up getting sick anyway. Is this true?

[Deleted]

Well, I wouldn't say that the vaccine doesn't protect them. What a vaccine does is prep the immune system for an attack. The body can make antibodies in advance so when an attack does happen, it's more prepared. Just because an animal is vaccinated doesn't mean they can't pass from the virus. It all depends on how efficient the immune system is at fighting it. But having the vaccine does tip the odds in your favor.

The other reason people say that is because there are a variety of strains of a virus. If infected with one different enough, the antibodies won't work (they are really specific). This is one of the biggest reasons why people who get the flu shot still get sick. They weren't vaccinated against the strain that they got infected with.

[Kyrie]

Thank you! That makes sense. After all of my research, I'm leaning toward just getting the one shot or not vaccinating at all--especially if it isn't actually going to completely prevent the disease the way my vet led me to believe. I'm reading in lots of places that the vaccine just offers a slightly better chance of beating the virus, and that most ferrets die anyway. Doesn't look overly helpful . . . Please feel free to share any further info that might be helpful! Thanks again!

[Deleted]

If I understand correctly the shot is a way of introducing the virus to the ferret so that hopefully they will recognize that small bit as a virus and fight it off, if all goes well then IF they do catch. The virus hopefully their wee bodies will fight it off but this is not a guarantee. It isn't even a guarentee that the shot will take at all OR that they will even be able to handle the shot. Vaccines have several things in them aside from just the live/dead or synthetic virus.
You have to reach your own conclusion and wiegh your risks . My current vet almost guilted me into it.

One thing I did that helped me to decide is that I to called my local pound and SPCA and asked them for the most recent area breakouts of distemper and see if it is even rampant in my area. Iin my case the last known outbreak was in 2004 at the SPCA also don't let my ferts be handled by anyone other than myself and my husband. Our shoes aren't allowed in the ferts room, we have indoor slippers for that. Once a week I wipe our shoes down with disinfectant also and bleach my floors where I can and disinfect where .i can't bleach. These are habits I've had for 11 years though because my pit bull is allergy ridden and old. My biggest points of worry with not vaccinating us when I take them to the vet or when I have my windows open if a sick animal was to come near.


From what I understand also, a raw diet will help their immune system to be strengthened, which I am hoping to get back to working on

[Heather]

What I discovered was...that despite your vaccinating your wee one for distemper (a shot that has serious reactions to it) your little one only has a 10% chance of surviving. Even if they do survive there is even greater chance that they will be so badly brain damaged they have to be destroyed anyway. That was my reason for not vaccinating. The chances were higher that my wee ones would suffer immunity damage or even death by the vaccine whereas their chance of contracting the disease was slim and if they did their chances of survival was practically none at all.
If you're more comfortable vaccinating then by all means do so, but limit the number of vaccines that you choose to do and never, ever give more than one vaccine at a time (they bundle them too..., which by the way means you're getting a dog vaccine, not a ferret vaccine). Know exactly what vaccines work for ferrets. There are many given and if your vet doesn't treat a lot of ferrets chances are you're not getting a vaccine that is going to be the right one. I've even heard of vets giving feline distemper vaccines to ferrets (it doesn't work at all) and most canine vaccines are bundled with parvo in the same vaccine. Make sure you're aware of which vaccine your vet is giving.
ciao
ciao

[Kyrie]

Thank you guys sooo much for your help! Heather, that is exactly the information I found. If I do decide to vaccinate, I will definitely know exactly what my ferret will be given. Thank you all again!