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Post by tss on May 23, 2008 14:10:24 GMT -5
I will NOT be getting rabies vaccines for the ferrets but I'm not sure about the distemper shots. When we get Weezer he was UTD on his shots, Lil (who was rescued with Jill) was only said to be right at one year old and supposedly had all of her shots. I haven't checked on the cost of titters verses the shots.. What are your feelings? I've had most people just say to get the shots and I've had one person recommend titters but I'm not sure if the titters will be cost prohibitive. In the meantime I am unsure of taking them outside, is it safe? They've only been outside twice This is a nice neighborhood and there aren't stray dog's running around of anything, the people around here are the kind to keep their dogs shots UTD. Thanks!
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 23, 2008 22:06:13 GMT -5
I recommend titers and so does Tim. I wouldnt take them outside without a distemper vax. Too risky. Where I live, the cost of titers is the same as the cost of vaccinations, so its not that bad at all. I highly recommend titers so that you don't OVERvaccinate, but at the same time, I dont recommend forgoing vax completely. Atleast not distemper, its 99.9% fatal in ferrets.
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tako
Cageless and Roamin' Free
"Future Ferrent"
Is overworked and not paid at all...
Posts: 268
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Post by tako on May 26, 2008 19:17:32 GMT -5
Just a newbie here butting in, but I definitely wouldn't feel better or that they'll be safe because your neighbors are "the kind to keep their dogs shots UTD." The amount of perfectly nice people who care deeply for their dogs and honestly worry about their health that actually keep their shots up to date is shockingly low! Some people aren't aware of the time frame for vaccines because they aren't well informed, honestly can't afford them, or all sorts of things, so you can't ever assume!
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 26, 2008 22:01:53 GMT -5
I must agree, you really can't put your ferret's health and saftey into the hands of your neighbors, no matter how nice/responsible they seem. I'd go with the base distemper shots and rabies too, if you wish, then I would titer from there and not re-vax without a titer.
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Post by tss on May 27, 2008 10:31:31 GMT -5
Well I'm not doing the rabies shots. No way a rabid animal could bite them since they would be watched closely while outside, plus the virus only lives a matter of seconds or minutes outside of the animal so they can't pick it up off of the ground.
The titers are MUCH more reasonable then I thought, I figured they'd be at least $100 each. Nope, only $34 per ferret including the office visit!! They are through Corneal.
I'll try and have that done in the next week or two, I'm getting some extra money from helping a couple people with yard/farm work. We may get the ADV tests at the same time.
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 27, 2008 18:52:14 GMT -5
Good luck with the titers!
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Post by meli on May 29, 2008 10:58:57 GMT -5
hope everything works out in your benefit and your ferts.
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Post by jojodancer on May 29, 2008 12:51:44 GMT -5
The AFA has an ongoing research grant for ferret titers. It's called the Mongo Memorial Distemper study. It's named after a ferret who had a reaction to the CDV and died. Their hope is to get 1000s of titers to get an accurate assessment of how many CD vaccinations are really needed. I wish I had the direct link to the study, but the AFA website is: www.ferret.orgI think it costs about $10, and everything else is paid for by a fund set up by the AFA. Once this study gets finalized, we may find out that we only have to vaccinate after birth, and at age 4 or something. My ferrets are getting their titers done this December, and their results will be sent to Cornell and be part of the study.
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Post by mustelidmusk on May 30, 2008 8:02:39 GMT -5
Yes, the cost of getting titers done through the Mongo Memorial Distemper study is $10. per ferret. The information and packet materials are available on the AFA web site. One thng I *think* I remember reading about this study is that they don't send the results back to your vet, but people have been contacting Dr. Ruth Heller directly, wnr he'll get the results for you? I'd look on the AFA web site and ask about this just to make sure you're OK. REGARDING RISK.....a LOT depends on where you live. I don't worry about the neighbor's dogs, but out area is infested with wildlife. Raccoons are great carriers of distemper, and our location is filthy with them. So, all those little critters prowling around your yard at night - the ones you DON'T see, are probably the riskiest of all. Titers of 1:32 or greater theoretically protect your ferret. the ratios do NOT "increase" in linear increments. They change from 1:32 to 1:64, 1:128, 1:256, etc. My one boy showed a value of 1:64. The other 3 showed 1:2000+ We've had high distemper occurences in the Denver/Boulder Colorado area - especially these past 2-3 years, so my vet has recommended that my one boy get a booster. There are a couple of reasons why my one boy could be lower compaired to the others: 1. his immune system does not react as strongly to the virus. 2. he got only the baby series. The other 3 got the baby series plus the 1-year booster. 3. Vaccine quality/storage issue I plan to follow my vet's recommendation and get a booster for my 1 boy. I'm hoping to see his values climb dramaticallylike the other 3 - he's a year and half younger. In th mean time, my brats only go for walks in their pet stroller - they LOVE their stroller (and they hate walks anyway - they're chckens ) I do not vaccinate for rabies either. Yes, it's illegal. My vet is OK with that because my brats don't interface with very many people, and I simply don't let people I don't know very well handle my brats. -jennifer
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Post by aleronferrets on May 31, 2008 19:58:42 GMT -5
I haven't vaccinated a ferret for at least the past eight or so years after one of mine had a severe reaction. Distemper in domestic animals is pretty uncommon in my area and while it is airbourne, it doesn't live long outside of the body. If you are uncomfortable with no vaccination, I'd suggest doing the first series only (no yearly boosters). Titering can also come in handy, as it allows you to see if your animal has immunity and prevents feeling like you have to vaccinate "just in case".
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jun 1, 2008 1:13:40 GMT -5
There were two cases of distemper in ferrets obtained from pet Stores reported this year. The occurences were in 2 separate states. It was unclear whether the ferrets were exposed in the pet store or in the breeder's facility. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the titer studies result in improved vaccination protocols ( possibly even safer vaccines)
I give Transfer Factors a couple of weeks before and after vaccination. There's no way of telling if this helps or not. I've never tried using benedryl as a pre vaccination mitigation practice, but I know that some people do.
-jennifer
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Post by tss on Jun 1, 2008 18:31:24 GMT -5
What's this mean? "each ferret that is presented for annual exam and vaccination is vaccinated for rabies and a blood sample drawn"
Is the titer like the ADV tests where you can just send the blood to them or does it need to be drawn by a vet? Can the blood just be put in capillary tube if we send it ourselves?
Also, what if you don't know the vaccine history? We were told the were UTD when we got them but we don't have any proof and we don't know when they got the shots.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 1, 2008 22:04:33 GMT -5
The titer must be drawn by your vet. Also, the titer will tell you if you are UTD on shots or not. The vet will be able to see the level of immunity in the ferret. If the level is too low, he/she will recommend a shot for whatever they are low on. Make sense?
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Post by tss on Jun 2, 2008 5:58:54 GMT -5
I understand how a titer works already. When you go the the vet and get the test done do you specificly have to say it's for the Mongo thing? jojodancer, you said that it is $10 per ferret and the rest is payed by the fund. Does that mean that even though the titers cost $34 at our vet we would ONLY pay the $10? If so thats a nice savings of $50, more to save up or spend on animal things
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 2, 2008 12:57:12 GMT -5
I am unfamiliar with the details of the study. I am sure you probalby should tell them the titer is for the Mongo fund though. There are a few ferrets at my vet that are participating in the study. My ferrets are too young to participate. My vet said they were looking for slightly older ferrets that havent been vaccinated for distemper in a few years. My kids got their original series this year, and we will be titering yearly, but by the time they are ready to participate in the study, it will probably be over. I hope it goes well though and they are able to change the vaccine protocol!
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