Ferret shots.

Question
QUESTION: Hello!

My ferrets, Cookie, (9 months) and Isis, (7 months), haven't had any of their shots yet. But I also keep them very clean, happy, fed, and etc. How badly is not having their shots done going to effect their health? :)

~Thank you, Lydia.

ANSWER: Hi Lydia:

I understand that keeping ferrets inside the house can make it seem like they are safe. Are there other pets that go outside then come back into the house, like a cat or dog? If so, they can bring in a disease.

Distemper is so contagious that even by walking on a sidewalk where an animal walked who had distemper walked, then walking into your house can give your ferrets distemper, so I NEVER skip that shot.

If you have no other pets and never take your ferrets out of the house, you can take your chances with the rabies shot if you want (don't forget, you never know what animals were at the vet's office before you and if they had rabies or distemper, so there is ALWAYS a danger if they aren't vaccinated).

REMEMBER>  Have your vet give the kids a benadryl shot 15 minutes before each shot to be sure they don't have allergic reactions (they can be deadly) AND NEVER EVER have both the distemper and rabies shots given at the same time because then, if they do have a reaction you won't know what it is they are allergic to AND the reaction could be twice as bad. I almost lost a ferret to a reaction to a distemper shot just minutes after she received it. She had a benadryl shot and I almost lost her anyway - if not for the benadryl she wouldn't have had the chance she did.

Best of luck !!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello, again!

Thank you for responding, but I forgot to say a few other things. Well, first, I NEVER take them anywhere outside the house; just on the bed to play and in their cage to hang out. Second, the reason I asked the original question was... I can't afford to take any of our pets to the VET. But on the other hand, I will never give them up because I can't afford VET care. (They're babied and in GREAT care.) And, how long IS it until I MUST give them their first set of shots? :)

~Thank you for your time,
Lydia

Answer
Hi Lydia:

Most ferrets from pet stores come with their first baby shot (distemper #1); but still need distemper #2 at 11 weeks of age and #3 at 14 weeks of age.  Rabies shot should be given at about three months of age and both the rabies and distemper shots need to have "booster" shots following the initial ones on a yearly basis (just one distemper and one booster). Maybe a couple HUNDRED dollars when all is said and done.

I always get scared when people say they can't afford vet care for their ferrets because ferrets are known for incurring high vet bills, especially after age 2. They can get adrenal disease, cardiomyopathy, insulinoma....and these are just a very very few of them. I recommend you get reading so you can recognize the symptoms of illness EARLY - that alone could not only save your ferrets lives but can help you get them the help they need in a timely manner. Unless you're a vet, you WILL need to get established with a ferret vet - not just any vet will do...these are exotic animals who need specialized vet care - as soon as possible.

Excellent care, such as NEVER giving anything with sugar in it (read the labels - there's a LOT of ferret 'junk food' out there. Anything with sugar, molasses, any ingredient that ends in "ose" such as sucrose, is a hidden sugar - beware and do not buy or feed to your babies) A high protein diet 38% - 45% protein FROM ANIMAL SOURCES ferret specific diet - here is a great website to choose food from.....try not to feed any food less than a "9":

         http://www.mdferretpaws.org/care/food_treats.html

Keep your home well ferretproofed; make sure your kids get lots and lots of exercise and OUT OF CAGE time playing in a ferretproofed room or two while being supervised. These are ways to avoid vet bills.

The day will come when you DO need a vet - I've spent more on vet bills on my ferrets than any other pet I've ever had; including my child!!  Start a savings account NOW for them so you won't get caught unprepared later. Most ferret owners keep $1,000 to $2,000 PER FERRET stashed away AT ALL TIMES as a MINIMUM.  The last year of a ferrets life can easily cost $4,000-$5,000.You're lucky, your kids are young and you have time to save and get ready. It's so sad when people have to put a ferret down because they can't afford a procedure that would give the ferret another year or two of life. Plan now and you won't hurt so bad later. Here are some lists of ferret vets recommended by other ferret owners:

VETS USA:
* http://www.quincyweb.net/quincy/vet.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/
* http://www.ferret-universe.com/vets/vetlist.asp
* http://www.ferretsanctuary.com/vets.shtml
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/

And, whatever you do, if you really can't afford vet care for your ferrets later, please please don't wait until they are sick then give them up. That ALWAYS ends up bad for the ferret. Then they not only have illness, but they just give up and die because their mommy is not there to help them. Please keep THEIR wellbeing in your heart first and foremost.

Best of luck.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers