A Dr. Ruth Share
The following were written by Big Guy's breeder and original mom, Ruth Heller. As she is one of a handful of veterinarians in the ferret know--I felt that they were must shares for my ferret families out there...
"This shelter is dealing with an outbreak of canine distemper, which is a horrific disease in ferrets, requiring aggressive and expensive treatment if the animals are to have even a small chance to survive. Ferrets that are not already ill must be vaccinated (using an off-label vaccine as the one licensed for use in ferrets is not available currently) and treated with immune supportive medications. Those that are ill are unlikely to survive, and in many cases must be euthanized to end their suffering--and that costs money too. The volunteers are working their hearts out, and those hearts are breaking with every minute." ~August 30, 2013~
To learn more about the Greater Chicago Ferret Association (the only no-kill ferret shelter in the Chicago area), what they are currently experiencing, and how you can help--please follow the link above.
"Prevention of canine distemper requires proper vaccination, bottom line. Ferrets need to be vaccinated, because in the case of exposure and infection, almost all of them are going to die. The only labeled vaccine, Merial's Purevax, is unavailable at this time - I have stated more than once, in several public forums, that I am using Nobivac DPv off-label to protect ferrets against distemper. Those who choose to use Neovac - I do understand that there is some proof that it works, the company, however, declined to share that proof with me when I asked them for it and I do not at this time recommend it.
Kits and unvaccinated adults, as well as ferrets with an unknown vaccine history if a titer is not to be run, should be vaccinated with a series of at least two shots with the last shot at or over 15-16 weeks of age. Following that, you can either re-vaccinate yearly or (my preference) run titers with booster shots given only if the titer number is low. It does not matter which vaccine you used before, you can booster with another one.
As far as preventing exposure - you cannot 100% prevent exposure. The virus is airborne, spread by sneezing, coughing, etc. It can be carried into your house by you - and you won't even know it. Vaccinate. If your ferret cannot be vaccinated (previous reaction, other illness, etc), and a titer has shown a low level of antibodies, do the best you can to decrease possible exposure by practicing good cleanliness and quarantine techniques. If your ferret cannot be vaccinated, and you have chosen not to get a titer, do the same - but really, folks, for your own peace of mind, get that blood test done.
Vaccinating after known exposure may help some ferrets, but is not a guarantee that they will not become ill, even if they are not showing signs when the vaccine is given.
As far as whether the shelter in question should be blamed or attacked - really? Yes, I have been asked that. They made a decision that in hindsight they are surely regretting with everything in them. They are already down - now is not the time to kick them. Now is the time to support them, do everything we can to help them save what ferrets can be saved, and then to learn from what happened. I can guarantee they will change their protocols now - let's make sure that happens in every shelter, before another one has to deal with this. Let's publicize this, let's make known what happened, yes. Let's not attack people who are, I am certain, already blaming themselves with more anger and regret than anything those of us who are outside the situation can possibly do.
There is no risk to the ferrets that attended the Buckeye Bash show - none of the ferrets from the GCFA shelter were there. Not to mention that all the ferrets at the show were required to have been protected, right? If someone decides to bring an unprotected ferret to a show venue and it becomes ill, whose fault is that, really?
The Chicago show - I was not going to it. I had been toying with going, until my dog's recent and very expensive emergency surgery put the kibosh on the idea. But if I had planned on going to it, I still would be. Any ferrets I would be taking are protected. And the shelter surely can use the money a successful show will give them. If you have been planning on going and are thinking of backing out because of this, I urge you to change your minds.
Folks, I see distemper in my clinic. Not often, thankfully, but I do see it. I use basic precautions, such as washing and changing clothing, spraying a disinfectant on my shoes, etc before I go home. If I have unvaccinated animals on the schedule after a suspected or confirmed distemper case, I call to reschedule their appointments. There is a certain level of panic going on here that is unwarranted, I think.
Vaccinate your pets. Run titers on them. Protect them, yes. And support this shelter and the volunteers who are going through a horrible time, with your money, with your attendance at their show if you were planning to go, with your good thoughts and wishes.
And work very hard to spread word on this so that no one is complacent about protecting their pets, a year or three down the line." ~September 2, 2013~
Kits and unvaccinated adults, as well as ferrets with an unknown vaccine history if a titer is not to be run, should be vaccinated with a series of at least two shots with the last shot at or over 15-16 weeks of age. Following that, you can either re-vaccinate yearly or (my preference) run titers with booster shots given only if the titer number is low. It does not matter which vaccine you used before, you can booster with another one.
As far as preventing exposure - you cannot 100% prevent exposure. The virus is airborne, spread by sneezing, coughing, etc. It can be carried into your house by you - and you won't even know it. Vaccinate. If your ferret cannot be vaccinated (previous reaction, other illness, etc), and a titer has shown a low level of antibodies, do the best you can to decrease possible exposure by practicing good cleanliness and quarantine techniques. If your ferret cannot be vaccinated, and you have chosen not to get a titer, do the same - but really, folks, for your own peace of mind, get that blood test done.
Vaccinating after known exposure may help some ferrets, but is not a guarantee that they will not become ill, even if they are not showing signs when the vaccine is given.
As far as whether the shelter in question should be blamed or attacked - really? Yes, I have been asked that. They made a decision that in hindsight they are surely regretting with everything in them. They are already down - now is not the time to kick them. Now is the time to support them, do everything we can to help them save what ferrets can be saved, and then to learn from what happened. I can guarantee they will change their protocols now - let's make sure that happens in every shelter, before another one has to deal with this. Let's publicize this, let's make known what happened, yes. Let's not attack people who are, I am certain, already blaming themselves with more anger and regret than anything those of us who are outside the situation can possibly do.
There is no risk to the ferrets that attended the Buckeye Bash show - none of the ferrets from the GCFA shelter were there. Not to mention that all the ferrets at the show were required to have been protected, right? If someone decides to bring an unprotected ferret to a show venue and it becomes ill, whose fault is that, really?
The Chicago show - I was not going to it. I had been toying with going, until my dog's recent and very expensive emergency surgery put the kibosh on the idea. But if I had planned on going to it, I still would be. Any ferrets I would be taking are protected. And the shelter surely can use the money a successful show will give them. If you have been planning on going and are thinking of backing out because of this, I urge you to change your minds.
Folks, I see distemper in my clinic. Not often, thankfully, but I do see it. I use basic precautions, such as washing and changing clothing, spraying a disinfectant on my shoes, etc before I go home. If I have unvaccinated animals on the schedule after a suspected or confirmed distemper case, I call to reschedule their appointments. There is a certain level of panic going on here that is unwarranted, I think.
Vaccinate your pets. Run titers on them. Protect them, yes. And support this shelter and the volunteers who are going through a horrible time, with your money, with your attendance at their show if you were planning to go, with your good thoughts and wishes.
And work very hard to spread word on this so that no one is complacent about protecting their pets, a year or three down the line." ~September 2, 2013~
For more information on Ruth Heller, DVM or Ravensnest Ferrets, please click the link.
posted by Basho at 10:50 AM
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