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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 21:05:05 GMT -5
Olivia & Sophie have their 1st official vet visit this Thursday at 8:00pm with Dr. Kimura of Mcknight 24 hour vet here in Calgary (recommended by Sherry and everyone I've spoken to who knows ferrets!  They actually had a checkup with another vet last night for their "Petland warranty exam" - they only let you go to their approved clinics, but the vet we saw actually works part time at Mcknight so she knew what she was doing. They checked out healthy there, and it was free so I'm not complaining. However, I'm a little nervous for our exam on Thursday. I'm kind of shy and not very assertive and I'm worried that they're going to try talk me into vaccines and out of a raw diet, etc. So I want to sound knowledgeable and be able to put my foot down. But I have a few questions... 1. So even though the girls are technically "due" for their 2nd distemper booster... I should say I want to wait until their 4-6 months of age, right? Do they just need the one shot then? And then to be titered each year after that? What about Rabies? It's the law here, so do I get the initial shot at 4-6 months and then titer after that too? 2. As far as feeding a raw diet go, I was planning on saying my girls are eating freeze-dried right now and some Evo ferret kibble but that I am switching them to raw and that it's the diet I want to feed. I'm worried that because I'm just starting out though, that they might try to talk me out of it... what do you guys say to your vets? 3. What about things like ferretone and hairball meds? The vet I spoke to last night recommened ferretone but I'm not really a fan because of all the preservatives in it. Same with hairball meds, I don't really want to use the petroleum based ones. I'm just worried they won't think the pumpkin and olive oil are good enough. 3. Is there anything else I should ask about? Any tests that I should have run? What about adrenal prevention? This is all pretty new to me so I just want to be informed. Any advice or links to things I should read would be appreciated! Thanks! ~Steph, Olivia & Sophie |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 21:20:14 GMT -5
1. So even though the girls are technically "due" for their 2nd distemper booster... I should say I want to wait until their 4-6 months of age, right? Do they just need the one shot then? And then to be titered each year after that? What about Rabies? It's the law here, so do I get the initial shot at 4-6 months and then titer after that too? What do you want to do? Any vaccine given when the immune system is mature should last for a long time (probably for life, but no studies have gone that far). I attached a paper about giving vaccines too early. A single shot at 4-6 months (longer you wait the better) should be all that's needed. To check to make sure the maternal antibodies were gone, do a titer 2 weeks after the vaccination and see what the antibody levels look like. Then titer yearly. Some recommend re vaccinating again 1 yr later, to reconfirm the initial vaccine. I choose not to vaccinate for rabies. I'm not sure of the laws in Canada, but most places require a yearly vaccine for it to be sufficient in the laws eyes. Meaning, if you vaccinate once, and your ferret bites someone 2 years later, and the vaccine hasn't been updated, then they might still quarantine/euthanize. Just because the ferret is protected isn't enough according to the law. So, because I won't vaccinate yearly, I don't even bother. The chances of a ferret being bit by a rabid animal are very slim. 2. As far as feeding a raw diet go, I was planning on saying my girls are eating freeze-dried right now and some Evo ferret kibble but that I am switching them to raw and that it's the diet I want to feed. I'm worried that because I'm just starting out though, that they might try to talk me out of it... what do you guys say to your vets? I usually dodge questions about diet. Keep them on a need to know basis (unless they're raw friendly). You're plan sounds good - kibble supplemented with freeze dried raw. 3. What about things like ferretone and hairball meds? The vet I spoke to last night recommened ferretone but I'm not really a fan because of all the preservatives in it. Same with hairball meds, I don't really want to use the petroleum based ones. I'm just worried they won't think the pumpkin and olive oil are good enough. It probably won't come up, and if you don't feel comfortable saying what you do use, lie. It sounds bad, but it honestly isn't their business. Pumpkin has saved my crews live on more than one occasion. So I will never stop using it. 3. Is there anything else I should ask about? Any tests that I should have run? What about adrenal prevention? This is all pretty new to me so I just want to be informed. Ask about the availability of the des. implant. Ask how much glucose tests, x rays, blood work, lupron shots, etc cost. How much does blockage surgery cost? It's good to have a ballpark value before you need to pay. |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 21:28:17 GMT -5
Thanks Jackie! You're so helpful! I'm not sure what I want to do about vaccines, I just want to do what's best for them. I do vaccinate all my other animals (dogs and cats) but they are much more likely to contract the diseases than ferrets are and I've seen too many animals really sick from not being vaccinated at the clinic I work at. However, vaccinating ferrets worries me because they are so prone to allergic reactions so I would like to do the minimal amount of vaccines required to keep them safe and healthy. The rabies vaccine does worry me in particular. One of my cats just had a really bad reaction and had to be hospitalized because of it and I know ferrets are even more prone to reactions from it. I don't like the idea of them being confescated and euthanized either, but I'd rather be diligent and not let them bite anyone than risk killing them with yearly vaccines. It's good to know about the need-to-know basis and lying thing  I'd rather do that and avoid conflict for sure. Sherry said that this vet is tolerant of raw but doesn't feed it herself, so I think it might be okay. I just don't want any conflicts right off the bat  Thank you for the article and the suggestion to ask about prices! That's a great idea! |
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 3, 2011 21:28:33 GMT -5
My ferret grooms himself a lot. He is shedding now. I am giving pumpkin every day and tomlyns natural hairballs remedy. It works and he passes the hair that he swallows (yes, I check the poop). I would only discuss diet with the vet if you are ready and willing to be criticized. Although if sherry uses this vet then I'm sure she's broken her in.  I was surprised last month I was talking diet with a vet and I mentioned that I was feeding commercial raw I was expecting "oh well, ya know, be careful with salmonella ..." instead he told me "that's excellent, but I prefer to feed raw that is fresh from the grocery store."  Before I left he also told me that he doesn't like to vaccinate. |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 21:31:35 GMT -5
Wow miamiferret! Your vet sounds AWESOME!
I am ordering some of that Tomlyn's, so I guess I will have hairball meds if they ask.
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Post by Sherry on May 3, 2011 21:45:10 GMT -5
Dr. Kimura is pretty good. If she says anything about the raw(which I doubt), just tell her your being mentored on it here ;D . As for the vaccines, if you don't want them done yet, simply tell them you are waiting until they are 5-6 months. Period. If you refuse to pay for it, they aren't going to do it |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 21:53:14 GMT -5
Dr. Kimura is pretty good. If she says anything about the raw(which I doubt), just tell her your being mentored on it here ;D . As for the vaccines, if you don't want them done yet, simply tell them you are waiting until they are 5-6 months. Period. If you refuse to pay for it, they aren't going to do it Thanks Sherry - you make it sound so simple ;D I am glad you go there already, it makes it a lot easier!!! I will put my foot down about the vaccines too! I feel a lot better now ;D, I'm such a worry wart!  |
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Post by Sherry on May 3, 2011 22:47:39 GMT -5
It's true though ;D I had a vet once trying to talk me into getting my cats vaxed. Told her it was up to her, but I certainly wasn't paying for something I didn't want done in the first place. She dropped it entirely ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 23:08:05 GMT -5
It's true though ;D I had a vet once trying to talk me into getting my cats vaxed. Told her it was up to her, but I certainly wasn't paying for something I didn't want done in the first place. She dropped it entirely ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D That's awesome!!! |
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