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immunizations

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todlake	immunizations		Lead	[-]
Posts: 28 May 30, 2008 13:32:43 Littermate	Tags : None OK, here's something to chat about. How do you feel about immunizing your pets on a yearly basis? I take my dogs to a vet and she announced last year that they finally came out with a report on how the "core" vaccines are only needed every 3 years - with the exception of the bordatella - kennel cough which they recommend every year. I was very pleased to hear this from my vet because I feel we over do it with yearly shots. My dog Lilly has seizures and I am perhaps a little oversensitive when it comes to giving her more and more chemicals. So basically, after they have had all the baby shots and get their rabies booster after 1 year, they should be good for 3 years. I had read about this a few years back and I am very pleased that this vet is implementing it in her practice - even though I am sure it hurts her pocketbook. The vet I take my cats to however, doesn't agree with me. He said he will continue to immunize his pets, both cats and dogs on a yearly basis. He did agree with my thoughts on the whole thing though. He said that there is a blood test he can do next year (when it is time for Cole's yearly vaccines) that will test the levels of antibodies in his system. He said if the levels are good - he would agree to not give him his annual shots. What have you heard on this subject? Also, is it absolutely necessary for the kittens to have 3 different trips to the vet (at various ages) for their baby shots?
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joanne r		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4379 May 31, 2008 03:28:57 FF&F Staff Administrator Upside Down and Backwards In Ozland	Personally I believe kittens should have the first three baby shots as they are the foundation so to speak that set the kitten up for protection at a age when they are most at risk.A vet I spoke to said most vaccines last 18 months ,but it is harder for a owner to remember a year and a half,yearly is easier and even if reminded,if a owner takes a month or to get to the vet,well better then if they were reminded at 18months and came in at 20 months,also it could depend on the area you live in,if say parvo is rife in your area once a year can not even be enough.Once is easy to remember and lets your vet have the once over your pet as well
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big cats		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3720 May 31, 2008 09:54:22 Critter Companion	I do think kittens should have the first three shots as well. I'm pretty vigilant about that with my fosters and recent adoptions (calling to remind folks to get that last shot). That's from experience with panleukopenia (the P in the FVRCP). Horrible, horrible, deadly disease and when we've had kittens at various stages in their vaccine series, it's pretty clear. Kittens who have had no shots are pretty much guaranteed to get it if exposed and mostly die. Kittens who have had one shot often get it if exposed. Kittens who have had two shots usually don't get it. Kittens who have had three shots never get it. I always breathe a sigh of relief a week or so after the second shot, as that's when I feel that I'm basically out of the woods. The disease is one you can just track in on your shoes too... though when it's hit our rescue it's always been shelter-born illness that comes with kittens who have spent time there before being fully vaccinated. As for annual revaccinations, I'm for fewer rather than more. I think the evidence is pretty clear that immunity is still there up to 3 years after the shots - and I would venture far longer too. I'm also picky about the shots I do give my cats. Rabies isn't required for cats in my state and I don't give it to anyone except my biters. I only do it so that there is proof they don't have rabies if they do bite someone besides me I won't tolerate a rabies quarantine in the pound for my babes! There are other vaccines too (leukemia, FIV, FIP) and I forego them all. How you vaccinate depends on a lot of factors but I do think the industry has really overdone it in the past. And I understand your concerns with your sensitive dog... one of my cats has vaccine reactions (he's also one of the three who needs rabies) and I have to do a benedryl shot before any vaccines he gets, to help him tolerate it better. That works quite well although it makes the vet's job harder - he is insane at the vet and after the first injection the vet is usually quite reluctant to give the next! Actually, they're even reluctant to give him the first injection after his reaction to them simply walking into the exam room
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todlake		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 28 Jun 3, 2008 11:41:29 Littermate	Thanks so much for your input. I have an appointment tomorrow for KC to get her first round of shots. I will have her get all of the basic kitten shots and boosters, but as an adult cat living only indoors . . . I will probably be on the "less is more" side of thinking.
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red tabby		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 42 Jun 4, 2008 11:51:24 Littermate	I made sure as kittens they had all their 1st year shots. I dutifully took Leo in for about the 1st four years and decided that it wasn't worth it to get him so worked up and scared for the darn trip to the vets. I thought I was clever trying to give him a gravol until he started foaming at the mouth and running around the house vomitting. I'll take my chances and let him live peacefully without the yearly up-heavel. Leo's an indoor kitty just like Maybelle, the dogs are vaccinated yearly and I treat them for heartworm, flea and hook worms. So far my cats have never been sick.
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todlake		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 28 Jun 5, 2008 13:57:00 Littermate	All is well with KC. She didn't care too much for the "poking and prodding" they did to her at the vet - can't say that I blame her. They said I should have named her "spitfire". She is a whopping 2.04 lbs and 9 weeks old. I opted to not have the $50 test for feline lukemia. Honestly, with the way the economy is with high fuel costs and high food costs, I'm lucky to have the $$ for her basic shots. The vet wasn't very pleased with my decision, but it is MY decision after all. They said if she tested positive then I wouldn't want to bother with her vaccines. I said if she was positive, she could still live a decent life as an indoor kitty anyway. They talked about the next set of shots in 3 weeks. Should I have her vaccinated against the leukemia? It seems to get so confusing to me.
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joanne r		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4379 Jun 5, 2008 18:03:28 FF&F Staff Administrator Upside Down and Backwards In Ozland	I know what you mean,in Australia we don't test unless the cat is ill and the vet suspects Leukemia.was Momma tested,I would go by that,if she was neg,I would not test,thing with Feline Leukemia is if KC has it your other cat is open to to it just by using the same litter box eyc. Feline Aids is different two cats can live together with one sufferer and the other having no problem,Leukemia virus is another thing altogether,just something to consider.I be tempted to test her and if neg,and she is to be inside only forgo the shots for Feline Leukemia.
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todlake		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 28 Jun 6, 2008 08:45:49 Littermate	So even if Cole is vaccinated against the Leukemia, KC could give it to him? Momma was never tested - she is very robust and healthy looking.
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joanne r		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4379 Jun 6, 2008 17:44:00 FF&F Staff Administrator Upside Down and Backwards In Ozland	I think of vaccines as armour or bullet proof vests,saves many lives,but not 100% protection. Many vaccines you still get whatever you are vaccinated against,but not severe and not fatal.
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big cats		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3720 Jun 7, 2008 10:43:43 Critter Companion	The leukemia vaccine is one with the highest rate of "failure" - so it is not recommended that you put even a vaccinated cat with a cat you know is infected with leukemia. HOWEVER, leukemia is not particularly common (I've tested hundreds and hundreds of cats and only come up with less than a handful of positives) and I don't think it's quite as tranferable as it is made out to be. We had it in a colony, and it turned out that of the 30 cats or so, only three had the virus... and they were sharing food, bathroom areas, grooming each other, etc. If you can get the test done in the future, do it. It's peace of mind. But it's not on my top list of concerns for new cats unless the cat looks and acts ill.
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