Titers? Rabies Shot? Help!!

[pazupazu1]

My oldest boy is 5 months and the other, 4 months. The 4 month old is visiting the vet on Thursday for a wellness exam. My vet recommends a rabies shot annually (it is law in NY state) , and he waives Distemper like the majority of exotic vets in my area. 

I haven't gotten anything done for them yet, since I've been really on the fence and nervous. I am aware of possible adverse reactions to the vaccines (more so for Distemper shots) and had dropped the idea entirely. Then, I thought that I may really have an issue later in life if vets refuse to perform surgery or other care (dental) on them if they aren't vaccinated against Rabies, not to mention if they bite the vet or a stranger who would report it. That would be completely my fault and I'd never forgive myself if they had to be euthanized or quarantined because I wanted to avoid possible reactions from the vaccine. 

It has been recommended to me by a colleague to get a Titer done for Rabies. I'm unfamiliar with them, if they "pass" that test, would they be waived from the Rabies vaccine? Do all vets offer this service? I don't really care about price. Do many ferrets "fail"?

Any input is appreciated! Also, I have read many of you vaccinate only once for Rabies and Distemper. Does this ever pose problems for you for vet services after they are "due" again?

[abbeytheferret6]

Any input is appreciated! Also, I have read many of you vaccinate only once for Rabies and Distemper. Does this ever pose problems for you for vet services after they are "due" again?

Rabies required by law here in NC---no problems here with vet services if not vaccinated, but you should ask your vet. On that note though, my vet said she was cleaning the teeth of a ferret and the rubber band holding its mouth open popped lose and canines came down on her and broke her skin. It is required of her to call the law because skin was broke and ferret was unvaccinated.They came and ferret was put in quarantine for ten days at owner's expense.

None of the ferrets that I have now have been vaccinated except one. It was for rabies and only one time. I got her off craigslist. I could not reach my hands into her cage to change potties or blankets without getting bit. Because I have vet tech cut nails, I was afraid she would bite the person. When they told me she was the best ---I thought, OK;) So that was her first and last shot. I do not let strangers mess with her too much because she is still a little sassy.


From what i have gathered on forum---people do the one shot of each and let that be--then others do nothing.
More information here on forum
holisticferret60.proboards.com/board/60/vaccine-information

It has been recommended to me by a colleague to get a Titer done for Rabies.

As far as titer testing---NC will not allow that to determine vaccination. 
Your state may be different. I would check before wasting money.


NC law:
Pet owners who are concerned about adverse reactions or over-vaccination should

be informed that rabies virus antibody testing (titers) are not to be used in place of

current vaccination for either management of rabies exposure or for determination of

booster vaccinations for animals.
epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/lhds/manuals/rabies/docs/animal_vax.pdf

[pazupazu1]

Thank you so much for your help!! I tried to see if Titers are passable here but I can't get a straight forward answer. Also I was thinking since they haven't had the rabies vaccines yet, I don't think they'd be eligible for a Titer. I also read passing that test doesn't always mean you get a waiver.

The BIG thing im worried about is the vet refusing service on them if they aren't vaccinated. You say they can't do that in NC? I wonder about here...are they open with you about not vaccinating them or do they give you a hard time about it? Mine don't get their nails done at the vet. My 4 mo old is a bit of a biter (never broken skin) and my older one is child safe, never bites.

I'm unfamiliar with how the law works as it says it's by law to have rabies done but does that mean you absolutely have to?? I know people are vaccinating only once even though a lot of states require it annually. So, it must not be a big deal...again I'm just worried about a vet refusing to perform emergency surgery or whatnot on them because of it. I guess if they were going in for a planned surgery or treatment later in life I could get the rabies shot done in a pinch but I heard the older they get, the more chance of a reaction.

Ugh. At a loss, not sure what to do. I really do not want to vaccinate them for it.

[Charlie]

I guess every place is different. In Ontario, rabies are given every 3 years for a dog. So I'm assuming it's the same here for a ferret, if at all. We have titer testing to see if the vaccine is still in the system so they wouldn't need it. I'm coming up to my 1 year with Charlie but I sort of recall that my vet mentioned not having to vaccinate again. Definitely talk to your vet about it. Charlie did get his distemper and rabies. I think he even got a ferret distemper my vet got him.

[Heather]

I do rabies if I have to cross borders, otherwise I do not. My vet does not support them but then I know they will be treated anyway. I handle my ferrets, the techs do not, so I get bitten not the techs. Read through the files offered. Learn what you can. There is a lot of misinformation and fear out there regarding vaccines. Learn what you can so that you can make a qualified decision. Remember, that decision is yours but know the facts.
Just remember that you must use the ferret rabies vaccine IMRAB3 any other can be dismissed and your ferret treated as though it's never been vaccinated against rabies. If you're going to risk the vaccine get the right one.
ciao

[unclejoe]

I just don't think the risk of a reaction or getting the wrong vaccine or dosage is worth it. The chances of Domestic ferrets getting rabies is so small, that there are less than 5 reported cases (1-2) per year, out of how many millions of ferrets in just the USA. It can ONLY be transmitted by a bite from an infected animal, and if that happens, chances are the ferret is dead anyway.
If you do decide to vaccinate, make sure you wait a good 45 minutes at the vet office in case there is a reaction. We had 1, and Prissy almost died but she was at the vet so she was able to get antihistamine injections that saved her.
My vets have always told us that the shot was required by local law, but they knew the risks and didn't make an issue of us declining. One was even bitten by one of ours, but she took it in stride as an occupational hazard. (Poppy NEVER bit anyone else)

[pazupazu1]

Dec 19, 2018 17:06:06 GMT -5 unclejoe said:

I just don't think the risk of a reaction or getting the wrong vaccine or dosage is worth it. The chances of Domestic ferrets getting rabies is so small, that there are less than 5 reported cases (1-2) per year, out of how many millions of ferrets in just the USA. It can ONLY be transmitted by a bite from an infected animal, and if that happens, chances are the ferret is dead anyway.
If you do decide to vaccinate, make sure you wait a good 45 minutes at the vet office in case there is a reaction. We had 1, and Prissy almost died but she was at the vet so she was able to get antihistamine injections that saved her.
My vets have always told us that the shot was required by local law, but they knew the risks and didn't make an issue of us declining. One was even bitten by one of ours, but she took it in stride as an occupational hazard. (Poppy NEVER bit anyone else)

I totally agree with everything you said. Especially how even if they do get bit, chances are they will die anyways. I really do not want to go through with vaccinating them. I also don't worry about them biting anyone who would report it as I never have them around strangers. If anyone is near them, I always instruct them not to play too rough with my youngest as he's still learning his manners. 

Your vet didn't mind you refused? That's what I'm worried about.

[pazupazu1]

Dec 19, 2018 15:57:58 GMT -5 Heather said:

I do rabies if I have to cross borders, otherwise I do not. My vet does not support them but then I know they will be treated anyway. I handle my ferrets, the techs do not, so I get bitten not the techs. Read through the files offered. Learn what you can. There is a lot of misinformation and fear out there regarding vaccines. Learn what you can so that you can make a qualified decision. Remember, that decision is yours but know the facts.
Just remember that you must use the ferret rabies vaccine IMRAB3 any other can be dismissed and your ferret treated as though it's never been vaccinated against rabies. If you're going to risk the vaccine get the right one.
ciao

My vet knows the risks of the Distemper shot, and waives it. So maybe he will be lenient with me. At the first visit, he did recommend the annual Rabies but I didn't contest it as I didn't really know much about the risks of vaccines at that point (I work at a Doggie daycare, we require vaccinated pets only, so I always thought of them as an absolute requirement!)

Thank you for that! I really hope I can just skip the vaccine.

[Heather]

What I find sadly amusing is that ferrets are one of the few if the only creature that is required to have an annual rabies and yet is the creature least likely to carry and spread it. They're so sensitive that they are usually dead even before they become infectious and won't bite as they develop what used to be called dumb rabies and are unable to actually bite or swallow. Chances are if you've been bitten by a ferret, the ferret doesn't have rabies.
ciao

[silentdook]

Dec 19, 2018 13:15:59 GMT -5 pazupazu1 said:

Thank you so much for your help!! I tried to see if Titers are passable here but I can't get a straight forward answer. Also I was thinking since they haven't had the rabies vaccines yet, I don't think they'd be eligible for a Titer. I also read passing that test doesn't always mean you get a waiver.

  A titer test will only show if there are still active antibodies in the blood, therefore an animal that has not been vaccinated will not show any antibodies. 

 Definitely check your laws and talk to your vet about those laws.

Personally, I would not risk a bite (either by my pet or my pet bitten by another animal) causing my pet to be quarantined, or worse, euthanized and beheaded for testing because I refused to ever have it vaccinated.  
The reason public health departments are so strict is because rabies is a severe danger to *humans.* 

[pazupazu1]

I'm back from the vet appointment.

I expressed my concerns about the rabies vaccine. He said with the one they use, he rarely has seen reactions to it (of course, it's not a common thing with the rabies anyways) I also asked if he refuses service on unvaccinated ferrets, in which he said before any treatment or surgery done, he can administer the vaccine. Implying that I guess he wouldn't do anything w/o it..sigh.

He also said he would not do a titer for rabies after I get the vaccine (something about it not being accurate) also these aren't good enough for the state.

I also told him I was worried since the older they get, the more prone to a reaction they are and he actually said this was false, and that if anything it would be the opposite. The older they get with the annual vaccine, the more "used to it" they become? I'm confused. Everywhere I have read states that the older they get the more prone they are.

I don't know what to do If he is going to end up administering it anyways if they need some sort of treatment or surgery done, I guess it's best to just do it. If I do, I would do one ferret at a time and stay around the vet for some time after the vaccine. Arrrgh.

[pazupazu1]

Dec 20, 2018 0:16:13 GMT -5 Heather said:

What I find sadly amusing is that ferrets are one of the few if the only creature that is required to have an annual rabies and yet is the creature least likely to carry and spread it. They're so sensitive that they are usually dead even before they become infectious and won't bite as they develop what used to be called dumb rabies and are unable to actually bite or swallow. Chances are if you've been bitten by a ferret, the ferret doesn't have rabies.
ciao

I agree! It's ridiculous. 

[pazupazu1]

Dec 19, 2018 17:06:06 GMT -5 unclejoe said:

I just don't think the risk of a reaction or getting the wrong vaccine or dosage is worth it. The chances of Domestic ferrets getting rabies is so small, that there are less than 5 reported cases (1-2) per year, out of how many millions of ferrets in just the USA. It can ONLY be transmitted by a bite from an infected animal, and if that happens, chances are the ferret is dead anyway.
If you do decide to vaccinate, make sure you wait a good 45 minutes at the vet office in case there is a reaction. We had 1, and Prissy almost died but she was at the vet so she was able to get antihistamine injections that saved her.
My vets have always told us that the shot was required by local law, but they knew the risks and didn't make an issue of us declining. One was even bitten by one of ours, but she took it in stride as an occupational hazard. (Poppy NEVER bit anyone else)

I forgot to ask---your Prissy, she almost died from the rabies shot? Or Distemper? I'm so sorry that happened. 

[pazupazu1]

Dec 20, 2018 11:37:57 GMT -5 silentdook said:

Dec 19, 2018 13:15:59 GMT -5 pazupazu1 said:

Thank you so much for your help!! I tried to see if Titers are passable here but I can't get a straight forward answer. Also I was thinking since they haven't had the rabies vaccines yet, I don't think they'd be eligible for a Titer. I also read passing that test doesn't always mean you get a waiver.

  A titer test will only show if there are still active antibodies in the blood, therefore an animal that has not been vaccinated will not show any antibodies. 

 Definitely check your laws and talk to your vet about those laws.

Personally, I would not risk a bite (either by my pet or my pet bitten by another animal) causing my pet to be quarantined, or worse, euthanized and beheaded for testing because I refused to ever have it vaccinated.  
The reason public health departments are so strict is because rabies is a severe danger to *humans.* 

So do you get yours vaccinated for rabies? Have you ever had any sort of reaction? I appreciate the input, that is kinda how I'm feeling about the whole thing. I'd feel even worse if they bit someone (most likely at the vet office) and they reported it causing them to get quarantined or euthanized.

[unclejoe]

Dec 20, 2018 20:10:54 GMT -5 pazupazu1 said:

Dec 19, 2018 17:06:06 GMT -5 unclejoe said:

I just don't think the risk of a reaction or getting the wrong vaccine or dosage is worth it. The chances of Domestic ferrets getting rabies is so small, that there are less than 5 reported cases (1-2) per year, out of how many millions of ferrets in just the USA. It can ONLY be transmitted by a bite from an infected animal, and if that happens, chances are the ferret is dead anyway.
If you do decide to vaccinate, make sure you wait a good 45 minutes at the vet office in case there is a reaction. We had 1, and Prissy almost died but she was at the vet so she was able to get antihistamine injections that saved her.
My vets have always told us that the shot was required by local law, but they knew the risks and didn't make an issue of us declining. One was even bitten by one of ours, but she took it in stride as an occupational hazard. (Poppy NEVER bit anyone else)

I forgot to ask---your Prissy, she almost died from the rabies shot? Or Distemper? I'm so sorry that happened. 

It was rabies.  She was 4 yo? and had annual vax up till then.  This shot was so she could immigrate to America from Canada.  She survived but it was an intense text conversation between me in Florida and Dar24 in Ontario, while I was in a college class...