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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 21:48:49 GMT -5
For the rabies and distemper vaccines is there a specific type for the ferrets? Also is there a specific type that tends to cause a reaction more than others? I am probably taking in a rescue ferret that will be up for adoption so from a rescue/shelter stand point I need to get it vaccinated. Also, I was not intending on getting my personal ferrets vaccinated as they never play outside so rabies is a far chance, but now I am wondering if maybe I should get them the distemper vacc? But that is the more risky vaccine... I just am a little worried now with all this distemper popping up in the US, but since they are a new strain the vaccines wouldn't cover them any way right? I am worried about the distemper because I work in a vets office and am worried about accidentally bringing it home. We havent had any distemper in my state that I know of yet but still.... Any thoughts or advise on this? Oh, and can ferrets catch the canine distemper or the feline distemper or both?  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 22:07:28 GMT -5
Ferrets only catch the canine distemper. I know that there is a specific for ferrets. I don't know the name though. Chestnut got his first 2 vaccines and I was gonna get him the 3rd, but the only local ferret vet didn't have the proper one. So I skipped. And I am not planning to vaccinate him anymore. I don't vaccinate my dog either (ok, I HAVE to do the rabies, cuz it's the law here ) |
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Post by Heather on Feb 19, 2012 22:58:32 GMT -5
Canine distemper...that's the one that you will have to be afraid of. I can't help you as to what brand of vaccine is best. I know that the brand that was being used regularly by many breeders is not available but I'm not sure that was the best brand of vaccine. I understand that they still have one that is reasonably successful.
Have your wee ones ever had any distemper vaccine? If you're concerned about bringing it home, there are things you can do to lower the risks. Remember, a distemper or any vaccine for that matter is not a preventative. What it does is allow the body to recognise the virus. In doing this, it allows the body to start a defence sooner, thus maybe beating the virus before it gets a solid hold. Do you have a place you can change your clothing at the clinic? I know when I visit a shelter, I changed my clothes and bag them before coming into the house. They go straight into the laundry downstairs (I go into the laundry room from the basement, so no animals are met when I go in that way).
I don't think the risk for your wee ones is going to increase anymore than it has been but being aware makes the risk appear closer. There will be no vaccine for the newer distemper, though I'm sure that they will find one. There is no ferret vaccine available in the UK (that I know of so please correct me if I'm wrong) the last I heard was they're using a canine vaccine. This might be the reason for the different dna in the virus.
Most times shelters that house fosters are not required to deal with the vaccines. These are given before the ferrets go into their foster homes. The other way around endangers all the pets in the foster home. No, ferret in a shelter situation should be released before their quarantine time is up. The quarantine is supposed to be done at the shelter. That is the responsibility of the shelter not the foster
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 23:06:11 GMT -5
In this case I am the shelter and therefore vaccinating would be my responsibility lol. All my personal ferrets are Marshalls and that is the only history I have on them. SO, Im assuming they got their first kit distemper and never had a follow up... The one that I will be taking in is approx. 5 months I believe.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 23:13:00 GMT -5
I think the name of the current ferret vaccine is Purevax ferret distemper vaccine. It's made by Merial.
If the newbie is 5 months old, a single vaccine should be enough to protect them (from the strains it contains).
In Florida there's a lot of distemper, so I vaccinate once around 5-6 months. But if a new strain was to infect my girls, it would come down to how strong their immune system is. The best defense, would then be providing the best nutrition to make them as equipped to fight infection. There's also an article about using vitamin A (think liver) to help infected ferrets overcome distemper.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 13:55:09 GMT -5
Being in Florida, I too choose to vaccinate. I've read stories of shelters losing over half their ferrets because a distemper infected rescue was brought in unknowingly. Even though the new rescues stay in a different room, it spread and killed a large number of ferrets. As a shelter, I tend to think that the benefits outweigh the risks to your little ones. My three did fine with the rabies and distemper, including the two that had distemper boosters.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Feb 20, 2012 14:27:53 GMT -5
I think the name of the current ferret vaccine is Purevax ferret distemper vaccine. It's made by Merial. this is the ONLY vax that i would use for distemper on my ferrets. there was one a few years ago that was causing SO many bad reactions that it is not even being made anymore! i forget what it was called but it is the one that all the ferrets were having awful reactions to. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 23:29:09 GMT -5
And as for the rabies vacc, do they use dog or cat?and does anyone have a brand on that, is it byMerial as well? the feline has a couple differant types of rabies vaccines... My vet that I work at does not frequently see ferrets but I would really rather he vaccinate them, because then I can take them to work with me early, he can give them the vaccine, and then they can stay there a few hours while Im working incase they have a reaction... And is it ok to give the rabies and distemper 1 week apart or should I wait 2? Thanks for all the help guys!
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Post by Sherry on Feb 21, 2012 1:22:58 GMT -5
And is it ok to give the rabies and distemper 1 week apart or should I wait 2? Thanks for all the help guys! My vet recommends a minimum of 3 weeks apart. Longer is better. |
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Post by Heather on Feb 21, 2012 1:27:10 GMT -5
I know in the US, you can give the distemper vaccine yourself ( alot of the breeders do their own kits)actually you can do it up here too or could but a rabies vaccine must be given by a vet otherwise it is considered null by law. Personally, considering the possibility of vaccine reaction to the distemper vaccine I wouldn't be giving that one either..but I thought I'd better advice about the rabies vaccine.
ciao
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Post by Sherry on Feb 21, 2012 1:33:12 GMT -5
I no longer do them either. But thought I'd better comment on my vet's thoughts ;D
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Post by Heather on Feb 21, 2012 12:08:06 GMT -5
Just to mention something that has just come up on FHL. The only rabies vaccine recognised for ferrets is IMRAB-3. The distemper vaccine is the Purevax-D by Merial
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2012 12:25:31 GMT -5
If you are in the UK: There is no approved ferret vaccine here for distemper, but we use 2 different brands of dog vaccines in different dosages, and all of the shelters round here for ferrets or mixed species all vaccinate against distemper. I have seen the effects of distemper of an unvaccinated ferret and it is devastating, I know some people are against them because they are "unnatural", but I would rather give my little ones a fighting chances if they ever got the disease. You can even bring the virus into the house on your shoes, so I think it's safer to do it. Obviously, if there's a vaccine that has less side-effects, then go for that one.
If you're in the US, I don't know much about the side-effects of the different ones over there though, or how prevalent the disease is where you are. I would suggest seeking the advice of the vet that the SHELTER RECOMMENDS. Remember, they take hundreds of animals there, so they know a good ferret vet from a vet who once was shown a picture of a ferret in vet school, and it will save you the time, money and heart-break of going to an idiot who knows nothing about them. He/she will be able to recommend the best vaccines for your pet.
As for rabies, we don't have it in the UK, so the only time we ever need to vaccinate our fuzzbutts is if we are taking them abroad.
Just a side note: My vet says that it <u>is</u> possible for ferrets to get feline distemper actually, contrary to popular belief, but it only manifests itself as the same symptoms as a mild cold in a ferret, and is rarely serious, so there's no vaccines.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2012 12:30:57 GMT -5
I've also heard this about allergic reactions for US vaccines- that for a (true) allergic reaction to occur, then it won't happen the first time you vaccinate the ferret, it will happen the second, or maybe even third time. The first time, the ferrets body will recognise it as a foreign body, and catalogue it as such, and then the second time it will go all out producing hystamines. Some vets who give a certain kind of shot recommend giving an anti-hystamine about a half-hour before the vaccine, and make owners wait half hour before leaving to check there are no allergic reactions, though I don't know how standard practise this is in the US, maybe someone over there will be able to throw some light on this. Also, this doesn't cover all side-effects, only allergic reactions.
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