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Post by alex on Feb 16, 2012 22:59:28 GMT -5
I just got my ferret and shes 8 weeks old. Itsays she has had one distember shot. So i still have to get the beggining series right? If so when should i get them, it says nine weeks but i just got her and shes almost nine weeks.Also when should i get her rabies? After that do i just get them yearly? Thanks
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Post by Sherry on Feb 16, 2012 23:58:09 GMT -5
You are going to get varied reactions on vaccines here. Some do none at all, some do all, and some do something in between. Personally, I now get one of each at about 5-6 months old, and a booster of each one year later and that's it. Odds of being exposed to rabies are very remote, and distemper vaccines can cause some pretty serious reactions. The reason for a kit "series" is no one knows when the maternal antibodies wear off, and anything given before that happens is useless. Also, as it turns out in most cases vaccines also give immunity for up to 7 years, which the vaccine companies obviously won't admit to. After all, they'd make a ton less money with fewer vaccines given. I'm sure many people will weigh in on this, but the most important thing Is to do your own research into the subject  |
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Post by Heather on Feb 17, 2012 3:17:08 GMT -5
Sherry's given you the bare bones of the argument. I'm one of the crazy people who doesn't vaccinate. I've done my homework, fought with my own daemons and weighed my risks and that's my decision. At the moment because of the way and when they vaccinated your little ones you have to be aware of one thing...they're probably not protected. The mother's antibodies probably knocked out the vaccine effect. The problem is knowing when the mother's antibodies will no longer have an effect. It has been known to cover up 18 weeks but more commonly 12 weeks. Chances are your vet will not even acknowledge the first vaccine anyway, so if I was vaccinating, I would choose to vaccinate after the farthest possible coverage so the vaccine actually works....if I did rabies I wouldn't do it until the ferret is fully matured about 18 months to 2 yrs. So, you see...in this controversy abounds. I also agree entirely with Sherry about the numbers if you're going to vaccinate. One distemper and one rabies with a minimum of 3 or 4 months between them and never ever...ever if the animal is unwell, never ever as a combination series and never together (rabies and distemper together).
Just my stand
ciao
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Post by alex on Feb 17, 2012 6:55:36 GMT -5
Okay so, does this sound good. Ill take her in at about 18 weeks and get her series of distember, then a couple months later take her in to get rabies. that same time the next year get her a booster for each and she should be good?
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Post by Sherry on Feb 17, 2012 10:50:07 GMT -5
That sounds about right  And just to warn you- your vet WILL most likely try to talk you into doing yearly boosters. Some believe it's necessary, but for most it's a good part of their yearly income. Keep that in mind, and just be firm about it. |
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Post by joan on Feb 17, 2012 13:32:45 GMT -5
IMO, one distempoer shot after 5 months should give her lifetime protection if it takes. To be sure that she is protected, run a titer test 2-3 weeks after the shot. After that time, a titer test is not always a good indicator of the degree of immunity, as a low titer or none only means that she has not been exposed to the distemper virus recently so has not had to develop any antibodies to it.
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Post by alex on Feb 17, 2012 16:10:33 GMT -5
So, if i wait till shes about 18 weeks do i need to do the series of distempers or does she just need one?
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Post by Heather on Feb 17, 2012 16:28:01 GMT -5
I would say only one. The series is needed because they don't know if they get the window right for the mother's antibodies. So you give in series so that one of those vaccines actually creates the antibodies your kit needs. Unfortunately, if you got that window on the second try (I believe there is 4 in that series..or maybe it's 4 because of the one already given that vets don't classify as 1???) anyway....you get that window on your second try, the third will overburden the kit's immune system and may even cause it to shut down. Now you're opening a whole new area which comes when the immune system shuts down and starts overproducing antibodies ..you've got it an allergic reaction. That's why with every new time you vaccinate, you raise the bar on the possibility of your ferret having a serious reaction to the vaccine
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 16:34:51 GMT -5
Oh that makes sense...  I didn't think about it like that. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 19:44:31 GMT -5
You may want to check what the laws are in your state. Florida requires rabies, I"m not sure about distemper. I vaccinated my three for both as I'm not taking the chance. If they bite someone and you don't have proof of rabies, the ferret will most likely be put down and a necropsy done. Distemper is also very deadly in ferrets. My dogs are vaccinated, but they go outside all the time. It is very possible that some stray animal could bring distemper into the yard and it get carried in on the dogs' feet.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 20:21:54 GMT -5
I just had Artie's distemper done and they included the diphenhydramine shot for the reaction to the vaccine. He was also there for observation for 3 hours just in case. He was a mellow version of him coming out. I took him home after that and fixed him some lunch and tried some rescue remedy for the first time.
I put some in his water and showed him the dropper and he just took the end of the dropper in his mouth. He is usually soo cautious. Well, after he was done with lunch he curled up in a cushiony corner near his food and crashed out for the rest of the day. Had dinner and went back to sleep. He was a wore out little dude.
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Post by alex on Feb 17, 2012 20:57:42 GMT -5
Is it neccesary to get him another rabies and distember a year after the initial?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 21:38:15 GMT -5
I follow the same protocol as Joan for distemper. Single vaccine around 5-6 months old. Older is better. I'm in Florida, and rabies is required. I never got it done. I don't think there has ever been a single case of rabies in a ferret. Rabies (unlike distempter) is transferred by contact with a rabid animal (bite, etc). My ferrets are indoor pets and go for walks on a leash with direct supervision. The chances of some rabid animal coming up to them and biting them before I can grab them is (IMO) more unlikely to happen then having a deadly reaction to the vaccine. So I refuse to vaccinate for it.
Distemper is a lot more prevalent, and is much easier to contract. Nevertheless, vaccinating every year just weakens the immune system. It is constantly assaulting the system.
Also, think of this: it bypasses the normal "infection route" (nasal or oral) by being injected straight into the body, which bypasses the natural route infections take.
I vaccinate ONCE at around 6 months, and that's it. Forever. If you want to verify that the vaccine initiated a correct response, then titer shortly after the test. Any longer, a titer is really not that indicative of immunity. There are TWO parts of the immune system. The adaptive (antibodies) and the innate immune system (neutrophils, WBC, macrophages, etc) that are attack any foreign body. So a titer only measures one side of the immune system and doesn't account for the other side. And like Joan said, there would be a low antibody level unless they have recently come into contact with the virus (the body doesn't constantly make the antibody).
Diet is strongly tied to a strong immune system - so providing the best diet possible is a way you can dramatically improve their immunity and protection against any disease.
And remember - a vaccine isn't a cure. New strains of distemper are around, and if the vaccine doesn't include that strain, it offers no protection. Just like a flu shot - people still get sick, because you can't vaccinate against every single strain.
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Post by alex on Feb 17, 2012 21:52:43 GMT -5
Okay so i am just not going to get her distemper series but ill get one shot whens shes about 5 months then around 8 months ill get one rabies and she should be good forever right? O also i have a dog idk if that affects anything.
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Post by Heather on Feb 17, 2012 21:55:17 GMT -5
Well put, Jackie. I just want to add one minor detail. Distemper is not required by law. Only rabies. Actually in some states it's my understanding that rabies is optional (that may have changed so make sure that you check your bi-laws if you want to know for sure)...just for the record, I've had vets tell me both are required by law...and they're not. In Canada all provinces are required to inoculate against rabies, it's the law.
ciao
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