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Post by bitbyter on Aug 8, 2016 15:42:33 GMT -5
The problem with not getting rabies shots is that if your ferret ever bites someone and the person, vet or authorities insist on testing it is a death sentence for the animal (brain tissue slides are taken) if you are in the U.S. Here in Canada, the person who got bit just gets a rabies shot and the animal is quarantined and observed for a few weeks.
Again rabies is a pain depending on where you live as there are laws that are related to it. Distemper vaccination is more your choice.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 15:56:08 GMT -5
I thought the US had run out of ferret distemper shots, is that not true? They didn't have any available when I asked, but that was 2 years ago. Is an adult ferret distemper shot a one-time thing, or does it also need to be repeated? It became available to me around may. I live in Utah. This is the purevax.
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Post by Aftershock on Aug 8, 2016 17:55:04 GMT -5
The problem with not getting rabies shots is that if your ferret ever bites someone and the person, vet or authorities insist on testing it is a death sentence for the animal (brain tissue slides are taken) if you are in the U.S. Here in Canada, the person who got bit just gets a rabies shot and the animal is quarantined and observed for a few weeks. Again rabies is a pain depending on where you live as there are laws that are related to it. Distemper vaccination is more your choice. I didn't want to get annual rabies shots, which was what I was expecting to have to do if I wanted anyone to be around them. I'm more than happy to wait until they are a year and get them a rabies shot. I had also read on how it can be really bad for ferrets to get too many vaccinations, so I feel better that it can be a one time thing. We got the boys distemper shots soon after we got them for the fact that my husband drives a garbage truck and goes to every park to dump cans.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 18:13:06 GMT -5
When I was living in a bigger city, I went to the vet near my house, and they really pushed getting shots.
But when I went to a ferret specialist (suggested by the local ferret rescue) He didn't push shots at all. My ferrets were older and he said it would be pointless.
For rabies, he asked if I ever thought my ferret would be in contact with a bat, Or if I was ever worried they could bite someone's kid? I said no.
So I didn't get them either. Maybe that's wrong, but he was a really good vet and I trusted him.
*Shrugs*
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Aug 9, 2016 8:25:52 GMT -5
I am not aware of any state that says it is law to do distemper---probably because disease does not transfer to humans. In paragraph below, this vet listed a few symptoms to be wary of and said he would not revaccinate (with symptoms) because it would probably get worse with next shot. Anaphylaxis refers to a sudden and severe allergic reaction that causes a crisis in many body systems. It occurs in all species of mammals as well as in human beings. Some signs of vaccine reaction that ferrets experience are rapid breathing, redness or blushing of its ears, restlessness, vomiting and mucus diarrhea - both of which can contain blood, collapse, seizures and even death. I would refuse to revacinate a ferret that ever experienced any of these signs, no matter how mild. Each time the reaction is likely to be more severe. Anaphylaxis is an immunologic event in that portions of the immune system are responsible for all the events that occur. The immune system of ferrets and other animals contain memory cells that recognize things foreign to the body. To gain immunologic memory the body must be exposed to the agent once, to know it, and then a second time to remember it. Because of this the ferret’s first distemper shot never causes a problem.
www.2ndchance.info/distemperferret.htm Since all Marshall Farms ferrets get canine distemper shots, It would not be their first.
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Post by Heather on Aug 9, 2016 11:46:16 GMT -5
The vaccine that is given at Marshals farms is a selling feature, and something that is used to cover the shipping requirements. It has nothing to do with helping a ferret not get distemper. The kits have been under such stress and newly removed from their mothers, there is absolutely no way that vaccine would work. The vaccine, the most logical one to work is at 6 months to a year. There are no laws requiring a distemper vaccine "except" to import. You're now required to have all ferrets imported into the US to have both a distemper and a rabies vaccine if over 4 months of age ciao
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Post by Aftershock on Aug 9, 2016 14:03:47 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, they call it a 'temporary' canine distemper shot in the paperwork.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Aug 9, 2016 15:09:39 GMT -5
Just letting people know not to feel ferret will do fine , for it will be second exposure to vaccine--the preservatives and what ever makes up the vaccine as this vet seems to think the affects of second shot and those afterwards is important as far as showing effects of allergic reaction. No one knows how they reacted to shot on farm. trying to say because they did not react to a shot, does not mean they will not react to later shots. When the ferret is exposed to the vaccine a second or third or fourth time the foreign protein (antigen or allergen) causes the release of dangerous mediator chemicals called histamines.... www.2ndchance.info/distemperferret.htm These acute allergies or anaphylactic reactions are due to the ferret’s body becoming sensitized to ingredients in the vaccine. It is not the actual virus protein, needed to immunize the ferret, that causes the reaction but other ingredients used in the propagation of the distemper virus or used to preserve and fortify the vaccine.
www.2ndchance.info/distemperferret.htm
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Post by Heather on Aug 9, 2016 15:37:42 GMT -5
Oh, I agree....I don't vaccinate unless I absolutely have to but that's my choice, no one's else's and to allow someone to believe the first vaccine is worth something is negligent and doesn't allow a proper choice. Yes, they are subjecting their ferret to a second vaccine but....they have to realise the first vaccine was a waste of a good immune system and will not offer any coverage against the disease. There are too many who believe because of that first vaccine that their ferrets are covered and if we say they only need one vaccine, that's the one they will choose. If anything all that first vaccine did was make them more susceptible to the disease by knocking out what little immunity the mother offered to her kits, but that just gets confusing for most. ciao
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Aug 9, 2016 15:46:12 GMT -5
Definitely:)
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Post by Heather on Aug 9, 2016 16:03:01 GMT -5
The US is out of the Purevax or at least it was. Most vets just use the puppy vaccine. The horrible thing about the puppy vaccine is you're also getting a parvo shot as well (they're a two for). Ferret cannot get parvo, but they can get ADV which is a parvovirus that ferrets and minks can get. I just don't like injecting a virus into an animal that can get a similar (always fatal) disease which we cannot fight. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2016 16:13:34 GMT -5
The US is out of the Purevax or at least it was. Most vets just use the puppy vaccine. The horrible thing about the puppy vaccine is you're also getting a parvo shot as well (they're a two for). Ferret cannot get parvo, but they can get ADV which is a parvovirus that ferrets and minks can get. I just don't like injecting a virus into an animal that can get a similar (always fatal) disease which we cannot fight. ciao Purevax is here in Utah. I can get my kids vaccinated now.
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Post by Heather on Aug 9, 2016 16:17:42 GMT -5
Ok.....Seemingly we've been able to get it in Canada too, but vets are still saying it's not available....if you really want to vaccinate and you want to use the "ferret" vaccine, which is Purevax by Merial, contact the company to double check availability ciao
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2016 17:28:35 GMT -5
Ok.....Seemingly we've been able to get it in Canada too, but vets are still saying it's not available....if you really want to vaccinate and you want to use the "ferret" vaccine, which is Purevax by Merial, contact the company to double check availability ciao It sounds like even a vaccinated animal doesn't really stand a chance. Sounds like if the animal is going to get distemper it's going to get it no matter what.
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Post by Heather on Aug 10, 2016 1:44:17 GMT -5
This does seem to be the case. I believe that there is a 20% survival rate if vaccinated, there is practically 0% if not. Truthfully, vaccinated or not be aware of the disease and where it is in your area, know your risks. If there is an outbreak in your area, be cautious, because even if vaccinated your ferret could contract it if it comes in direct contact with the disease. The virus is fragile. There are shelters who've managed to save some ferrets after an outbreak. Many aren't even sure why certain ferrets die while others do not. An outbreak is heartbreaking. ciao
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