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

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Title: Worried about vaccine reactions?
Date: May 27, 2002
By: Mary R. Shefferman

==> Worried about vaccine reactions?
    Don't know what a vaccine reaction is? 
    Read about our first experience with the new
    Merial distemper vaccine for ferrets.

    By Mary R. Shefferman

 The other day our ferret Gabby had her canine
distemper vaccination. The first year we vaccinated
her (with Fervac-D), she was fine. The second year
(again, with Fervac-D), she had a mild reaction. She
vomited a bit and had some diarrhea. Vaccine reactions
can range from mild to very serious to death. Vomiting
and diarrhea is not as serious a reaction as shock, 
bloody diarrhea, or coma. But every vaccine reaction 
is important when deciding what to do when it's time
for the next yearly vaccination.

 We've had some horror-story vaccine reactions in the
past. Our beloved Knuks, who was a petite dark-eyed
white, turned bright red (her skin) and went into
shock just minutes after getting her distemper 
vaccination. It was 45 intense minutes, with our
veterinarian giving her medications (steroids and
antihistamines), before she began to come out of it. 
It took days before she was her pesty self again. The
entire staff at the vet office remembers that
reaction. With that background, we were very 
concerned about Gabby's distemper shot this year.

 Knowing that Merial has come out with a canine
distemper vaccine for ferrets that is USDA approved,
we decided to wait for our vet to get in that vaccine
before getting Gabby her shot. 

 I'm pleased to report that Gabby was fine. First our
vet checked over Gabby to make sure she was healthy
(you should never vaccinate a ferret who is ill). She
then pre-treated Gabby with something to counteract
any reaction that might occur -- just to be on the
safe side. I stayed at the vet office for 45 minutes
after Gabby's shot (you should ALWAYS wait at your
vet's office for at least a half-hour after ANY
vaccination). I checked on her in the car on the way
home. At home, Eric and I checked on Gabby every
couple of hours to make sure she was still ok. She
was!

 Any time we vaccinate any animal, we run the risk
of a reaction. We have to weigh the risk of reaction
against the seriousness of the illness the vaccine
protects against. In the case of canine distemper
virus, we know that the illness always means death
for a ferret. I can only speak for my own beliefs,
but if I lost a ferret to an illness that I could
have prevented, I would not be able to forgive
myself.

 In the past, there was only one canine distemper
vaccine for ferrets that was USDA-approved. That was
Fervac-D (United). If a ferret had a reaction to that
vaccine, we had to make some very hard decisions
(pre-treat? not vaccinate? use a non-USDA-approved
vaccine?). Now we have a choice. Purevax-D (Merial)
is approved for use in ferrets. Now, if a ferret has a
reaction to Fervac-D, we can choose a different
APPROVED vaccine to protect against this deadly virus.
Thus far, Purevax-D has seemed to have a lower
incidence of reactions than Fervac-D.

 Ask your veterinarian about this new vaccine --
especially if you've ever had a ferret react to
Fervac-D or any other canine distemper vaccine. Of
course, ANY vaccine can cause a reaction in a
particular animal. There are no guarantees. But
having a choice gives us the kind of option in
caring for our ferrets that we've long needed.

 Gabby is very happy. And so are we.