Dobemom2b,
What a horrible experience for you and your ferret, I am so sorry.
The information below may give you some insight into why the rabies vaccine is such a problem.
Rabies, Leptospira, Lyme, are killed, adjuvanted vaccines. Adjuvants are vaccine components (such as aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate) used to enhance the immunological response.
"The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999 classified veterinary vaccine adjuvants as Class III/IV carcinogens with Class IV being the highest risk," IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: Volume 74, World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Feb. 23-Mar. 2, 1999, p. 24, 305, 310.)
According to the
2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines Special Report (Page 16),
"...killed vaccines are much more likely to cause hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., immune-mediated disease)." Could this be due to the combination of mercury (thimersol) and aluminum additives in the same vaccine?
Mercury (Thimersol) is commonly found as a preservative in killed, adjuvanted veterinary vaccines. The combination of the mercury (thimersol) and adjuvant components (aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate) in the same vaccine are of considerable concern because of the reactive properties of aluminum, especially when in contact with mercury (thimsersol).
Please see the information below, as well as a Congressional petition to remove aluminum additives in human vaccines. Remember, mercury (thimersol) is still used in veterinary vaccines along with aluminium.
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Mercury and aluminium Mercury (element) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aluminum amalgam Aluminium amalgam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Due to the reactivity of aluminium amalgam, restrictions are placed on the use and handling of mercury in proximity with aluminium. In particular, mercury is not allowed aboard aircraft under most circumstances because of the risk of it forming amalgam with exposed aluminium parts in the aircraft. In the Second World War, mercury was used to sabotage aircraft." Chemical Reactivity of Aluminum:
Chemical Reactivity Petition to Congress "Removal of Aluminum Additive in Vaccines Resolution and Petition" REMOVAL OF ALUMINUM ADDITIVE IN VACCINES RESOLUTION and PETITION Petition "
The combination of mercury plus aluminum is far worse than the sum of the two toxicities added together. The synergistic toxicity could be increased to unknown levels."