Ferret News
Pet Ferret Care Tips
and Information
By Mary R. Shefferman & Eric Shefferman - along with Gabby, the ferret
www.ferretnews.com

Ferret News #44 - Ferret Vaccination Facts
June 9, 2003

by Mary R. Shefferman and Eric Shefferman
along with Trixie, Koosh, and Gabrielle (ferrets)

contact: marymodernferret.com

In this Newsletter

•  Vaccination Facts
•  The Modern Ferret Magazine Monster Pack
•  Update on Modern Ferret Magazine
  
  

Vaccination Facts

By Mary R. Shefferman

  We get a lot of e-mails asking about ferret vaccinations. The questions range from which vaccines to use to how common vaccine reactions are and what to do if your ferret has a vaccine reaction. Here are some facts about ferret vaccinations that should help you make informed decisions about vaccinating your pets.

  Ferrets need to be vaccinated against two diseases: rabies and canine distemper. Both diseases are fatal, so failing to vaccinate can mean your ferret's life. Ferrets should not be given combination vaccines (such as are used in dogs) or feline distemper vaccines.

  It's important to use only USDA-approved vaccines for ferrets. That means Imrab-3 (Rhone-Merieux - Merial) for rabies vaccinations and either Purevax-D (Merial) or Fervac-D (United) for canine distemper vaccinations. Using the wrong kind of rabies vaccine can actually give the ferret rabies, so it's very important to use the right one.

  Baby ferrets need three distemper shots -- given about 4 weeks apart -- their first year and a booster shot yearly after that. The first shot is usually given at the farm where the ferret is born when he is 6 - 8 weeks old. The second shot should be given at between 10 - 12 weeks of age. The third shot needs to be given after the ferret is 16 weeks old. The rabies vaccination is yearly and can be given when the ferret is about 16 weeks (4 months) old.

  The two vaccinations should be given about two weeks apart. This way, if your ferret has a reaction to one of the vaccines, you will know which vaccine caused the reaction. Also, giving the vaccinations two weeks apart allows the ferret's system to concentrate on one vaccine at a time, which may be beneficial. Of course, this means two vet appointments -- one for each vaccination -- but it is much safer for your ferret.

  Why should you vaccinate? Canine distemper is airborne and it is 100% fatal in ferrets. Distemper can be brought into your home by other pets (like your dog) or even on your shoes. Although there have been reactions to both of the approved canine distemper vaccines (fewer with the Merial vaccine), the protection against this deadly disease is worth the risk. In my opinion, it is better to vaccinate, knowing there's a chance of reaction, than to not vaccinate, knowing that a ferret who gets distemper will certainly die.

  Rabies is rare among ferrets. A ferret infected with rabies usually dies before being able to transmit it to a human being. However, the general public is very skittish about rabies. If a strange animal bites them, they want to know that the animal is protected by a rabies vaccination. Usually any health department will allow a person who has been bitten to demand that the animal be killed and tested for rabies. Keeping your ferret vaccinated makes that kind of demand unlikely. Another reason to vaccinate against rabies is that some states or localities require it (ask your vet).

  Any animal, including humans, can have a reaction to any vaccine. Reactions are more common with some vaccines than others. One of the reasons to separate the rabies and distemper vaccinations is that if a reaction does occur, you will know which vaccine caused it. Thus, you will be able to give special consideration to that ferret when his next booster shot is due.

  Many veterinarians pre-treat ferrets with Benedryl before any vaccination. This way, if there is a reaction, it isn't as severe. Many vaccine reactions are mild (a little vomiting, for example) and can be treated by the veterinarian immediately. Some reactions are very serious, and can lead to death. This is not as common, but it can happen. You should always wait at the vet's office for at least 30 minutes after a vaccination. We usually wait longer than that (about 45 minutes). If your ferret has had a previous reaction, you might want to wait at the vet's longer. That way, if your ferret does have a reaction, you're there at the vet's and the reaction can be treated right away.

  Most vaccine reactions occur in the first 20 to 30 minutes after vaccination, but sometimes a ferret can have a delayed reaction. Our ferret Balthazar had a mild reaction nearly 8 hours after the vaccination. You should always keep an eye on your ferret for 24 hours after the vaccination. You can expect him to be a little tired, but any sign of illness should be addressed immediately. Make sure you check out an emergency vet clinic in your area in case your ferret has a delayed vaccine reaction (or any other emergency).

  Finally, never vaccinate an animal that is ill. Your vet should examine your ferret for signs of illness before he vaccinates, but you know your ferret best. If your ferret is feeling under the weather, reschedule the vaccination appointment. If your ferret has a chronic illness or has had a serious vaccine reaction in the past, talk with your vet about how to proceed with vaccinations.

Update on Modern Ferret Things

  Thanks for reading the Ferret News Newsletter! Remember to let your friends know that they can join the newsletter at:

http://www.ferretnews.com

  If you've missed any newsletters, check out our Archive section.

  If you're having difficulty receiving the newsletter (because of your ISP's e-mail filters), you can always read the current issue at our website.

Thanks for reading! Good health and happiness to you and your fuzzy friends!

--Mary & Eric Shefferman and Trixie, Koosh and Gabby (the ferrets, of course!)

  Stay tuned for more. You can always get updates by reading my blog (a blog is an online journal). I keep it sporadically and it usually runs to the more personal stuff. But you might like it. It's at

http://www.modernferretblog.com/mary

Ferret News

Please let your ferret friends know about this newsletter and encourage them to join.

http://www.ferretnews.com

Shopping at these web sites helps support this newsletter so we can continue to send it for free to all who want it:

http://www.ferretdesigns.com

http://www.ferrettradingpost.com

You can provide feedback about this issue at:

http://ferretnews.com/feedback.html

or by sending email to:
marymodernferret.com
or to
feedbackferretnews.com

Disclaimer:
http://ferretnews.com/disclaimer.html
The shortened version of the disclaimer is: If your ferret is ill or you think your ferret is ill, bring your ferret to a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian.

Copyright 2003 Modern Ferret magazine.
All rights reserved.
http://www.modernferret.com

Tell us what you think of this issue.