Cat vaccines can lead to cancer!

and look at the info on the vaccine there.
maybe you coudl print it out & take it to your vet?
I find havin references in hand to be helpful, I'm always bringing my vet info on products for his opinion.

Bendy

Hi. I fixed the link to my website in the original message above - the problem was the period at the end of the website. It's always been available. It's http://catvaccines.netfirms.com

Ft. Dodge is the company that made the vaccines that gave Jack the cancer. These companies KNOW about the risks and problems - that's why they have reimbursement programs. Ft. Dodge reimburses up to $1500 per household. I got a check for slightly over $1200 after I reported Jack's case to them. This covered:

- illness the day after he was vaccinated (severe diarrhea and vomiting and dehydration)- this cost me $330
- diagnosis and tests for cancer, a year later - cost me $870
- some herbal treatments - about $35

I can still get more money from them if I send in future receipts. They cover any traditional treatments as well.

The 1 in 5000 number is a little low - I (and others) believe it is more like 1 in 1000 vaccinations. The problem is that it is UNDER-REPORTED.

For example, Jack's case has NOT even been reported officially! Why? Because he received the shot at a Vetco clinic, not at a regular veterinarian. The case must be reported as a "vaccine reaction" by a vet. Vetco is not my vet and would not report the case since they didn't examine Jack. My vet oncologist will not report the case since she/they didn't administer the vaccine - and it's only "heresay". The majority of the cases that get reported are the ones where the vet who administered the vaccine also diagnoses the cancer.

I tried to report it myself (on a website), but you need all sorts of additional information about the vaccine that I don't have. I have the serial number and lot of the vial, etc., but I don't have the "technical" info that they require.

Again I am not arguing with people who decide to vaccinate and take the risk. It's just that if you do - please know that:

- it's better to vaccinate in the hind legs (better yet in the tail)
- it's a good idea to check your cats for any lumps in the vaccination site monthly for a year (your cat will love the massage)
- don't overvaccinate - almost all vaccines last for 3 years even though they are recommended yearly (it's kind of like the contact lens fiasco where the monthly lenses were the same as the weekly lenses but had different prices).

-David

Originally Posted by catvaccines

Thanks for everyone's reply. The posters from England and Australia bring up a good point -

from what I have read, Vaccine-associated Sarcoma is virtually non-existent in the UK. I'm not sure about Australia, but I would assume as well.

This, to me, definitely points to the vaccines themselves and not to the practice of injecting anything into the scruff of a cat.

I agree totally with everyone - it is definitely a personal choice - my point is to educate people and let them know the dangers and risks.

Also if you choose to get your cat vaccinated, please don't let them inject anything into the scruff of the neck. The tail is best (though most vets won't do this), but the hind legs are a good choice.

Thanks,
David Blue

P.S. By the way, Jack has just started his 7th month of life since his diagnosis back at the end of June 2002. This is significant since at that time, the vet oncologist gave him 4-6 months to live. I have been treating him with holistic medicines only - Cansema and IP-6 and his original tumors went away but new ones are forming now. He's doing quite well, however.

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David it is a sad fact here in the US that many Vets do not care a bit about their patients - just the money their patients bring in.

The protocol (even on critterfixer and catshots.com) was developed by the Vacccine Associated sarcoma task force. These were a group of people - vets pathologists etc. who got together and studied the vaccine problem, and THEY decided that every THREE years (UNLESS you have a cat at risk) is better than annually as the shots last at LEAST 7 and some for life. They also discovered that in the scruff or between the shoulder blades MOST cats (who have surgery to remove the lump) do not live more than three years after.

David have you joined the VAS groups on yahoo groups? 1) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/feline_VAS_support and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VAS_bulletin_Board The people on both boards are very knowledgeable and kind and helpful! The bulletin board is pretty slow right now but they are TRYING to change laws and MAKE Vets inform their clients of the dangers of VAS developing and to MAKE vets vaccinate in the proper places! OH and at catshots.com they have a bumper sticker that reads EDUCATION BEFORE VACCINATION. I would have prefered one that says more but ----!

Good luck with your baby!

Originally Posted by Yola

2 out of my 3 cats get a single, combined jab every six months.

Do you think this would be considered to frequent? I have to admit this is the first I've heard of this risk so might it be down to the rabies dosage. We (technically) don't have rabies here so there is no immunization against it.

Also, my cat's health insurance is contengent on them getting their boosters. So I don't want to stop unless there is a very good reason.

David - I'm so sorry to hear of Jack's illness.It's very sweet of you to care so very much as to commence alternative therapy. I do hope this gives Jack a better quality of life for the time he has left.

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If you go to the thread that started this VACCINE SITE LUMP in health & nutrition you will see the protocols I posted. THESE protocols are mainly for indoor cats so you need to read them and study them and discuss them with your vet. REMEMBER though, a Vet loses a GREAT deal of money by not doing annual vaccinations!

Also check out critterfixer.com and critteradvocacy.org and catshots.com

Originally Posted by Bendy

These has been out for a few years. they are made without the aluminum adjuvant that is thought to be the main reason for vaccinosarcoma risk.

I buy them from Revivalanimal.com "Felo-guard" the description of the vaccine specifies non-adjuvant. you can also get the FeLeuk vaccine this way, and the rabies but it is only for one year.

Since I do a LOT of fostering, I vaccinate my cats for just about everything. Rabies is very prevalent here in NC, and the vaccine required by law. I don't have a problem with that. I've seen rabid animals, it is not a disease you want to mess with and I'd hate to have a rat or something get into the house & bite one of my guys. the chances are slim, but there are there. As is the chance of one slipping by me one morning, or a natural disaser (we have hurricanes & nasty windstorms here) damaging my house and the cats getting out.

I'm kind of surprised that no one else has posted about the non-adjuvant vaccines!

I am told, by my vet, that the risk of vaccinosarcoma is 1 in 5,000. I'd take that risk to protect against these often fatal cat diseases!
I don't know what the stats are on the new non-adjuvant vaccines.

Bendy's mom

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ACTUALLY the numbers of REPORTED VAS cases are 1 in 3000 cats which is UP from 1 in 10000 some years ago. These are REPORTED cases as some like my Corkie's case are NOT reported!

My vet warned me of the dangers of unnecessary vaccinations last summer. Since Sophie, Luna and Cassie are all indoor cats, it saves them from at least two vaccinations. If my vet hadn't told me this and given me the option, I would have vaccinated, assuming I was doing what was best for my girls.

http://www.cat-world.com/Healthl-z.htm#Vaccines

When I get into that site it says it is moved and I cannot find the part about the vaccinations!

Originally Posted by catvaccines

Hi....................................

Again I am not arguing with people who decide to vaccinate and take the risk. It's just that if you do - please know that:

- it's better to vaccinate in the hind legs (better yet in the tail)- it's a good idea to check your cats for any lumps in the vaccination site monthly for a year (your cat will love the massage)
- don't overvaccinate - almost all vaccines last for 3 years even though they are recommended yearly (it's kind of like the contact lens fiasco where the monthly lenses were the same as the weekly lenses but had different prices).

-David

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David I have been told it is dangerous to vaccinate in the tail as a lump can grow before you notice it and spread to the anus and rectum and internal organs.

ANOTHER place to find information out is to type Vaccine Associated sarcoma or Vaccine site sarcoma or injection site sarcoma into your browser and go to the places it shows you!

Please do remember that this is an old thread - I linked to it to display that there are significant differences between the vaccines and protocol used in the US and other countries.

Yola is from the UK and I know that we have a different vaccine.

Originally Posted by Sar

Please do remember that this is an old thread - I linked to it to display that there are significant differences between the vaccines and protocol used in the US and other countries.

Yola is from the UK and I know that we have a different vaccine.

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I think the UK is way ahead of the US!

Zissou had her two kitten shots and then just the rabies, and from now on will only get the rabies--it is required by law and if she got out without a current rabies tag she can be "destroyed" at the discretion of the city if there are rabies cases. So I think it's worth the risk, since I am pretty sure this city has a large problem with stray / feral colonies and also that they don't do anything as humane and sensible as TNR and such, if you get my drift.

I have always heard that the FeLeuk shot has the highest risk. Is that true? That is one reason she hasn't gotten it, just tested for it. Also, she got her kitten shots in the scruff and her rabies in the leg. Was there anything to that?

My vet is still recommending the yearly shots, except the rabies is every three years. The reason is my cats live outside, confined in a fence area in my back yard. We have had coons to did under the fence and come in the yard. They do it when the pecan tree is putting out the nuts and the coons love to eat them. Anyway, my cats could get nose to nose with another cat through the chain link fence although we never see cats here in the yard. But my vet says for my cats the right choice is the yearly booster. I welcome opinions from anyone who read this.

I think we know the vaccination risks when we chose to vaccinate our cats.

I think everything leads to cancer these days, or so people say.

(I realise this is an old thread)

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

I think we know the vaccination risks when we chose to vaccinate our cats.

I think everything leads to cancer these days, or so people say.

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My previous cat, Mittens, was an indoor cat. I became her mummy when I met my husband (she was his cat). Apart from when he got her, she was never vaccinated. She died last year aged 15 years from cancer of the liver. Now, it could be that we were just very lucky with her (i.e. that she didn't catch any infectious diseases) but who knows?

I bought Bella and Cinders from a breeder and they came to me already vaccinated for the year. The decision I will have to make later is whether I will continue to vaccinate or not. The girls are also indoor cats.

I just started to vaccinate my cats 3 years ago. I never did before and I have never had a cat get sick and die from anything. I am starting to wonder why I vaccinate at all. This is the site I printed out for my vet

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/heal...uidelines.html

In my opinion kittens and pedigreed cats are the ones who will benefit the most from vaccinations.

Originally Posted by Pui Hang

My previous cat, Mittens, was an indoor cat. I became her mummy when I met my husband (she was his cat). Apart from when he got her, she was never vaccinated. She died last year aged 15 years from cancer of the liver. Now, it could be that we were just very lucky with her (i.e. that she didn't catch any infectious diseases) but who knows?

I bought Bella and Cinders from a breeder and they came to me already vaccinated for the year. The decision I will have to make later is whether I will continue to vaccinate or not. The girls are also indoor cats.

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I just wanted to go off topic here for a minute to tell you how beautiful Bella and Cinders are.

Thank you Yosemite! Bijou and Mika are very beautiful too!

Hmm, might be an old thread but certainly interesting. I have never heard of these cancers before joining this site, it never comes up on the UK site I am a member of. Mine were vaccinated for the first time last year - meant to get it done when I started fostering, but things happened. The locum vet who gave them the first jab tried to push the FeLV jab on me without even mentioning testing them for it. I had already had some advice that it can cause nasty side effects (my CP branch know of kittens who have died from it) and that if it is an older cat (mine were roughly 13 and 10 at the time) then it is pointless as they will have their own immunity (from a conference CP went to) - she tried to tell me that she hadn't seen an adverse reaction in 8 years and that them getting it would be worse but I stood my ground. Their boosters are due in Apr though, so i have to decide if they will be done - Pebbles is insured and part of the condition is that she is vaccinated against it, but I will take the chance and pay if anything does happen.

Honestly, the chances of having such a side affect are VERY rare.
I think that I'd rather take THAT chance then hope that my cat will simply not catch anything bad.