Cat Vaccination - Current Recommendations
How often do you get your cat vaccinated? It became customary back in the 1950's to get yearly re-vaccinations.
This wasn't based on any scientific data.
At the time it was believed there was no risk.
We know different now.
In fact adverse reactions from vaccines are so significant that all 27 Veterinary schools in North America have updated their recommendations, as have these industry associations: - American Veterinary Medical Association - American Animal Hospital Association - World Small Animal Veterinary Association - Australian Veterinary Association Current recommendations for re-vaccination range from "3 or more years" to "7 or more years" to never.
Adverse Reactions Vets generally only see immediate reactions.
Symptoms can appear up to 45 days or even years later.
Reactions range from mild to debilitating including death.
Injection site cancer has become so common (160,000 cats a year in the US) that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force recommends changing the injection site from between the shoulder blades to the tail or hind leg so it can be amputated if cancer develops.
Other adverse reactions include: Allergies, chronic skin problems, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, pancreatitis, kidney failure, liver failure, arthritis, thyroid disease, epilepsy, seizures, paralysis, auto-immune disease.
Vaccine Protocol A vaccine protocol should be individualized for each cat and include: (1) Which vaccines (2) How often Cat vaccines: Panleukopenia (cat distemper), Rhinotracheitis, Calici virus, Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Panleukopenia is life threatening.
Rhinotracheitis and Calici virus are respiratory diseases.
Like a cold they cause runny nose, runny eyes and fever.
They're not life threatening.
Feline Leukemia virus requires direct, intimate, cat-to-cat contact.
An indoor cat is not at risk but you may want to consider it for an outdoor cat.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), also called Feline AIDS.
FIV is believed to be spread only by bite wounds.
Indoor cats are not at risk.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine (FIP) is generally not very effective and is associated with severe side effects.
FIP is an upper respiratory infection Indoor cats are not at risk for rabies but your municipality may require a rabies vaccination.
Rabies immunity duration studies overwhelmingly support a duration of at least 3 years.
Hopefully your municipality doesn't require yearly shots.
A conservative vaccination approach recommended by Dr.
Pitcairn is for a single Distemper (Feline Panleukopenia) shot at 16 weeks.
It's best to get a single vaccination at a time however, most vaccines come as a combination.
For cats you'll likely get "3-in-1" - Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis and Calici virus.
Additional recommendations:
This wasn't based on any scientific data.
At the time it was believed there was no risk.
We know different now.
In fact adverse reactions from vaccines are so significant that all 27 Veterinary schools in North America have updated their recommendations, as have these industry associations: - American Veterinary Medical Association - American Animal Hospital Association - World Small Animal Veterinary Association - Australian Veterinary Association Current recommendations for re-vaccination range from "3 or more years" to "7 or more years" to never.
Adverse Reactions Vets generally only see immediate reactions.
Symptoms can appear up to 45 days or even years later.
Reactions range from mild to debilitating including death.
Injection site cancer has become so common (160,000 cats a year in the US) that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force recommends changing the injection site from between the shoulder blades to the tail or hind leg so it can be amputated if cancer develops.
Other adverse reactions include: Allergies, chronic skin problems, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, pancreatitis, kidney failure, liver failure, arthritis, thyroid disease, epilepsy, seizures, paralysis, auto-immune disease.
Vaccine Protocol A vaccine protocol should be individualized for each cat and include: (1) Which vaccines (2) How often Cat vaccines: Panleukopenia (cat distemper), Rhinotracheitis, Calici virus, Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Panleukopenia is life threatening.
Rhinotracheitis and Calici virus are respiratory diseases.
Like a cold they cause runny nose, runny eyes and fever.
They're not life threatening.
Feline Leukemia virus requires direct, intimate, cat-to-cat contact.
An indoor cat is not at risk but you may want to consider it for an outdoor cat.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), also called Feline AIDS.
FIV is believed to be spread only by bite wounds.
Indoor cats are not at risk.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine (FIP) is generally not very effective and is associated with severe side effects.
FIP is an upper respiratory infection Indoor cats are not at risk for rabies but your municipality may require a rabies vaccination.
Rabies immunity duration studies overwhelmingly support a duration of at least 3 years.
Hopefully your municipality doesn't require yearly shots.
A conservative vaccination approach recommended by Dr.
Pitcairn is for a single Distemper (Feline Panleukopenia) shot at 16 weeks.
It's best to get a single vaccination at a time however, most vaccines come as a combination.
For cats you'll likely get "3-in-1" - Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis and Calici virus.
Additional recommendations:
- Don't vaccinate if your cat is sick or immune compromised.
- Don't vaccinate if your cat is receiving pharmaceuticals, especially steroids.
- Don't vaccinate near or at the same time as surgery such as spaying/neutering.
- Minimize stress as much as possible.
- Maintain a good diet.
Source...