Vaccinations

Basically, there are only a few vaccines approved for use in the ferret. The preferred ferret distemper vaccine is Merialpurevax, and IMRAB (Merial Vaccines) for Rabies. A kit (a kit is a baby ferret) will need a series of distemper vaccines, with the last booster given at 16 weeks. After the initial series, vaccination is done yearly. There are veterinarians using other canine distemper vaccines or canine combination vaccines that are not only non-protective, but may also precipitate distemper in some ferrets. FERRETS ARE SO SENSITIVE TO THE CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN NEED DOG EXPOSURE TO GET DISTEMPER! Get ferrets vaccinated, because distemper in the ferret is a slow and always fatal disease! (Just be sure your vet is using a vaccine made specifically for ferrets).

Rabies does not require boosters, and in Indiana is given any time after 12 weeks of age and repeated yearly. Some states may have different ages for the initial vaccination ...