Skip to content

Home » Ferrets » wellness care » vaccination

Vaccinations

Is it important to vaccinate my ferret?

Yes. There are several preventable, life-threatening diseases ferrets can acquire. These diseases are usually preventable with the use of routine vaccinations. There are core vaccines that are recommended for most ferrets. In addition, there are other vaccines that are offered to ferrets at risk for diseases based upon your pet’s habits and the incidence of diseases in our area.

The core vaccines for ferrets include:

  • Rabies vaccine – protects against the rabies virus, which produces a life-threatening disease that is transmissible to humans that affects the muscles, nervous tissues, and brain. Rabies is fatal and is spread by the saliva from affected animals, including wildlife such as raccoons. Rabies vaccinations are required by law.
  • Distemper vaccine – protects against a virus that is nearly always fatal and affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems.

What is my ferret’s vaccination schedule?

Your nurse and the Doctor will set up your pet’s vaccination schedule based on how old he/she is at the first visit. Your pet’s vaccine schedule will include the core vaccinations with their boosters and any necessary diagnostic tests (such as fecal examinations). Booster vaccinations are scheduled at three-week intervals from the initial vaccine until the series has been completed.

Why does my ferret need to come back for so many vaccines?

Re-vaccination is important in both young and adult animals. In young animals, the immunity gained at birth from nursing declines over the first several weeks of life. The first vaccination triggers an immune response and protects your pet at early age, while booster vaccines enhance the immune response to make sure your pet is protected later on. In adult animals, booster vaccines help to maintain the best immunity for your pet by enhancing his/her immune response.

What should I watch for, now that my pet has been vaccinated?

It is not uncommon for your pet to show slight lethargy following a vaccine. However, if your pet demonstrates any behavior that concerns you, contact us immediately. Anaphylactic reaction is a rare complication to vaccination

If your pet has vomiting or diarrhea, call us and/or return to Bradley Hills Animal Hospital immediately.

Ferret owners: Please plan on waiting with us for twenty minutes after your ferret receives his/her vaccines. While severe vaccine reactions are rare, they can be life-threatening and do require immediate medical attention. We want to make sure your pet is happy and healthy before he/she goes home with you.