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Post by Sherry on Feb 18, 2012 0:38:23 GMT -5
Rabies are a requirement here as well. Yearly for ferrets. I simply no longer allow anyone to handle them. If by chance they were to bite someone, and that person complained? A ferret is automatically euthanized and tested for rabies. Knowing what sort of toxins go into the body with a vaccine, I refuse to take the chance that they may panic and bite by not allowing anyone other than close ferret savvy people to touch them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2012 1:27:32 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. That should be fine. There is a vaccine section set up (can't remember if I've put all the articles there) that document that vaccines last much longer than 1 year. It's a long read, but you feel a lot more comfortable going into a vet office when you know what you're talking about. And Sherry, I do the same. No one outside family handles the fuzz. If a friend wants to hold a fuzz, it's Pixie because she won't bite even if scared, hurt, etc.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 18, 2012 10:42:31 GMT -5
Here it's Miss Emily or Frodo ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 21:52:00 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 This is probably way after the fact for you now, but my vet only really recommends 1 distemper and 1 rabies shot at around 3-4 months old, (assuming they had one round already). He did one and then he did the other two weeks later. When you go in for vaccinations ALWAYS stay at the vet for at least 20minutes after the vaccines are administered. Supposedly reactions are *not that common* but when I took Rolo in last summer, he reacted within 5 minutes and immediately lost total control over his body, he peed himself, vomited multiple times, and was struggling to breathe. Luckily I was still in the room chatting with the vet, but if I had just paid and jumped in the car to go home? I don't even want to think about it. Anyway, as for yearly or not, Rolo's first set was for one year, the second set that he reacted to the year after were IMRAB 3 and PUREVAX by merial, and these were supposed to be good for 3 years. Also, should your ferrets ever have a reaction, you should never vaccinate again no matter what, (unless required by law, but you might be able to get a letter from your vet for exemption) its not worth the risk.
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Post by Heather on Mar 15, 2012 22:44:49 GMT -5
Just to counter your vet's comment about a reaction to the distemper vaccine. The reaction rate for ferrets to the subsequent distemper vaccines is about 65%. The reaction that your ferret suffered is much less, but I've seen much worse. The imrab3 is the only accepted rabies vaccine for ferrets here in Canada (just had to do some major investigating, so I know this one) The purevax has presently been discontinued (claims of inability to meet it's demand huge discussion on another board) They hope to have it in production again by Sept. This has been an ongoing issue for the last couple of years. Vets often substitute dog distemper vaccines that haven't been tested on ferrets to cover the lack of distemper vaccines available. Make sure if you are going to vaccinate your ferrets that you ask what vaccine you're getting. It has been suggested that Nobivac DPv is safer. There are a couple of vaccines (Galaxy D) that are known to give horrible reactions more often than the purvax which is the safest distemper vaccine. Another mention as well....vaccines should never be given on the same day. A minimum of 2 weeks should be taken between vaccines and one should never give a vaccine just before or right after a surgery (this is often done with the rabies vaccine). Just some thoughts to think about ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 22:46:56 GMT -5
So..now I am wondering. My little guy is about to go in for his Distemper booster. (2-3 week wait) and it appears to me that he may never need another shot, except maybe rabies?
Is there the same protection levels without the boosters each year? I would rather vaccinate than risk getting sick- and Bode is out and about all the time.
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Post by Heather on Mar 15, 2012 23:11:31 GMT -5
Vaccines are simple and yet very complicated and misunderstood. I've done my studies and weighed my risks. My risks aren't yours and they shouldn't be. I have my reasons and what I believe in and how I came to those conclusions and risks can only be mine. I do not believe that vaccinating numerous times gives you any advantage, if anything it makes things worse. Vaccines do not stop your little one from getting distemper. It only allows your little one's antibodies to recognise the virus and mount a defence. Will the wee ferret survive. Unfortunately, the mortality rate is huge vaccinated or not. Vaccines do not prevent the disease from happening and vaccines are not a cure. If you understand that you're more than half way there. The body doesn't forget the lesson (the vaccine), it gets shelved for future knowledge (antibodies). The problem is if you continue to vaccinate you overload the information....what happens when you overload a lesson...it stops working. This is when the ferret goes into a immune response when it gets a vaccine...an allergic reaction. All an allergic reaction is ...is an over reacted immune response. It's already proven that rabies (by merik) was good for 3 yrs. Why did they not take it further...because it wasn't financially viable. Through Dr Dodds study they've now hit the 5 yr mark, they figure from the response they're getting right now, they figure that at 7 yrs it will still be good. What does that mean, it means that the response will be recognised for the lifetime of your pet. Just remember....companies like Merik don't care about the health of your ferret, they're all about the bottom line. Just look at all the vaccines that are available to you right now and ask yourself who's reaping the benefit....is it really you? ciao
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Post by dook2dook on Mar 16, 2012 2:49:41 GMT -5
My Salem never had the first series of shots I personally don't think vaccines are necessary. My vet says that he hasn't seen a case of distemper in this area in years. I still get him done but not as often as most reccomend
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Post by Heather on Mar 16, 2012 11:15:53 GMT -5
I don't vaccinate at all but as I said, the risk is there. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 14:25:52 GMT -5
i did vaccines until i herd about all those ferrets in the shelter who died wether they had the vaccine or not. so now i dont vaccinate. to me, its not worth the possible reaction. since i am a groomer, i just change my clothes and clean up before i handle them.
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Post by alex on Jun 4, 2012 10:36:57 GMT -5
I just wanted to let everyone know I decided not to vaccinate at all. I don't want to take a chance of reactions. I do have a few questions though. Whats the chances she catches distemper. I barely ever take her outside, but when i do its just straight to the car so i can take her to my sisters if I'm going on vacation or something.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 12:23:10 GMT -5
Thats where google, your vet or your local DHEC comes in handy. Ask them about distemper cases. You generally can write to them or call them (if its a local agency) to find out. Google? Its generally quicker but not as reliable.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 13:41:58 GMT -5
There is a real risk of distemper. If an animal with distemper peed in your grass, you could step in that and bring it into your house. It really depends on the prevalence in your area. My kids were vaccinated once for distemper at 6 months.
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Post by alex on Jun 7, 2012 19:41:09 GMT -5
Shes about 6 months now what if I get her a distemper shot at like 8 months. How often should I get them after that or should I be okay with just one. Also do I even need rabies? I'm not saying legally b/c I know you are suppose to get anually, but what are the chances of a animal biting her without me getting to her first. I really want to be able to take her outside so I'm prob. going to get her a distemper but I just don't know how often to get it. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 20:05:37 GMT -5
Shes about 6 months now what if I get her a distemper shot at like 8 months. How often should I get them after that or should I be okay with just one. One shot should be enough. You can verify that an immune response was initiated by using a titer test about 2 weeks after vaccination. I know some vaccinate once again (year booster) and then stop. Also do I even need rabies? I'm not saying legally b/c I know you are suppose to get anually, but what are the chances of a animal biting her without me getting to her first. I've never done the rabies series... Like distemper, a single vaccine should protect them for life (or until they're so old they shouldn't be revaccinated). If you're actually worried about them getting bitten by a rabid animal, you can do a single vaccine. I think the chances of that actually happening are very very low. But it's a personal choice and you should be completely comfortable with the decision.
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