Vaccinate a ferret: vaccination schedules by age, price and types of drugs

If a ferret is kept as a pet, it, like all animals, must be vaccinated against common and dangerous infectious diseases. Some of the diseases are dangerous not only for ferrets, but also for humans. Consider when and how to vaccinate a ferret, at what age, how to prepare an animal. Which vaccines can be chosen, what are their side effects and contraindications.

Preparing the animal

Vaccinate all ferrets that are kept at home, even if they do not go out for a walk. An animal can still become infected, the infection enters the premises through the owner's clothes, shoes and belongings.

Start vaccinating ferrets when they are 3-4 months old. It is not recommended to vaccinate before this age, since the body of a young animal is not yet able to properly respond to the drug. It is possible to vaccinate after 4 months, but in this case, the ferret, remaining unvaccinated, will be at risk of infection. Only he althy pets are vaccinated.

Before you get vaccinated, you need to examine the animal, check for temperature, inflammation, damage. 2 weeks before the scheduled vaccination, deworming should be done, even if this is not necessary. Also treat the coat against fleas and ticks. Destruction of parasites is mandatory, otherwise the effect of vaccination will be reduced. Internal and external parasites significantly affect the functioning of the immune system, reduce overall resistance, and the development of an immune response is slower than necessary.

Before vaccination and for some time after, the ferret should not be allowed to come into contact with other animals.This will reduce the risk of complications. It is recommended that a course of an immunomodulatory agent be given before vaccination in order to prepare the ferret's body for exercise. Although this step is not required.

Vaccination schedule and precautions

There are differences in vaccination by age. At the first stage of vaccination, ferrets under 8 months old are vaccinated against canine distemper, parvovirus enteritis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and infectious hepatitis.

A month after that, a rabies vaccination is carried out. Then the animals are revaccinated once a year. For adult ferrets, all vaccinations are done at once, at a time.

Contraindications and side effects

It is impossible to vaccinate sick ferrets, pregnant and lactating females, as well as those animals who have hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. After vaccination, the animal's body may react to the drug with a decrease in activity, a slight soreness at the injection site.Everything should be back to normal in 1-2 days. If lethargy, drowsiness, indigestion are noted, reactions such as itching and redness of the skin are also possible - a typical manifestation of an allergic reaction. In this case, you need to take the ferret to the veterinarian for examination, as complications are possible.

Post-vaccination period

For 1.5 weeks you need to keep the ferret at a constant temperature and humidity, avoid stress, do not allow him to contact with animals. You can not bathe and overwork, so as not to overload the body. This is necessary for the development of immunity. If the animal has been successfully vaccinated, after the post-vaccination period, you can switch to the usual regimen and allow the ferret to be more active.

Price and types of vaccines

Specialized vaccines for ferrets are not used in Russia. In veterinary practice, Nobivac and Eurican multicomponent vaccines are used. At the first stage, when the ferret is 2.5-3 months old, NobivacDHPP+L is used. 3-4 weeks later, the NobivacDHPP+RL vaccine is used. According to the same principle, they are vaccinated with Eurican. An injection is made in the cervical region or between the shoulder blades.

If the risk of infection is high, it is allowed to use the NobivacPuppyc vaccine on 1.5-2-month-old ferrets. Adults are vaccinated once a year with NobivacDHPP + RL, that is, the full complex. If the vaccination history is unknown, the animal is vaccinated 2 times, repeated every year.

Approximate cost of vaccines: Nobivac - 300 rubles. and Eurican - 500 rubles. Immunity is formed 1.5 weeks after repeated administration of the drug when using Nobivac and 2-3 weeks after using Eurican. Valid for 1 year from the date of introduction.

Sterile syringes are used for injection, the vaccine drawn into the syringe is administered to the animal immediately. The vaccine is administered in a volume of 1 ml (1 dose) subcutaneously in the area of the scapula or in the thigh muscle.

Drugs are transported and stored in a dark, dry and cool place, at a temperature of 2-8 ˚C. Do not allow the drug to freeze. Shelf life Eurican - 1 year, Nobivac - 2 years. After the expiration date has expired, you should not use the drugs in any case, there will be no effect from them.

The drugs used to vaccinate ferrets are highly effective (about 95%), high-quality, safe when used correctly. Rarely, their use causes side effects or complications. Immunity is developed quickly, lasts the entire period specified by the manufacturer.

Vaccination of ferrets against dangerous infections is mandatory, as is the vaccination of all carnivores. Without the immunity that is developed after vaccination, animals, in most cases, become very ill and die.This applies to both adult ferrets and young ones. Therefore, you can not skip the stages of vaccination, and even more so completely ignore it. Animals can get sick at any time, even without communicating with their own kind or other living creatures. With immunity, they will be safe.