Annual exams - good news and questions

Took the first two of six cats that need their annual wellness exams and shots.

When I took Archie in to see the vet more than 6 mos ago, she told me he had stage one periodontal disease - lots of brown plaque on his back teeth, etc. She wanted to do a dental and then put him on antibiotics, etc. I was not keen on that and started him on a dental regimen ... all the cats as a matter of fact.

The regimen included PlaqueOff, enzyme toothpaste, occasional dental CET dental treats and a little later - Biotene oral antiseptic and maintenance gel, and I recently added Biotene Water Additive.

When she checked his teeth she couldn't believe how good they looked. Wow - is what she said, I think. She was very pleased. She also noticed he is looking and acting better - lost a little weight and seems happier.

Now .... for the questions. We talked at length about vaccine protocols. My boys are indoor only, range in age from 2-4 .... I am not planning to add anymore cats and don't really have room for a foster right now... If I can place Casper - then maybe.

To make a long story short -- I opted for a one-year rabies vax for the boys -- which the vet says doesn't have the component that could possibly be linked to vaccination site sarcoma. That's good. But I opted NOT to give them distemper combo boosters. She is a microbiologist by training, prior to vet school and has a lot of animal/public health experience. We talked about immunity build up and how that works, what is or is not zoonotic, circumstances under which the boys could catch something, etc.

Now I am second-guessing myself about the distemper stuff. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, guys.

ETA: She also told me Tex has a stage 1 heart murmur, but nothing to be alarmed about.

I spoke with my cat sitter who is also a vet tech. She said in her official capacity as a VT she would recommend the distemper combo... but given my circumstances - a closed household - she didn't think it was necessary. HER cats don't have it and she works with a lot of people at the clinic who don't. I guess that made me feel a little bit better.

see i wouldnt know what to do, my vet always tells me what he thinks my two should have with them being indoor only, and we dont need to really have rabies vac's and right this minute it escapes me what they had

but you have reminded me to get my butt into gear to get them to the vets for their jabs

Rabies vaxes are not required by law here in Michigan for cats. But if one should bite a person or another animal.... there could be BIG problems. I am still pondering getting them their distemper combos.

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

see i wouldnt know what to do, my vet always tells me what he thinks my two should have with them being indoor only

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Ashley, my 3 would always have the flu/enteritis shot even though their indoor cats, but that's because i was always told they should have them by their previous vets.

Now that weve changed to a new vet last year he told me that there was no reason to give them shots unless they were going outside, so i haven't bothered this year and they just had their heart, teeth, eyes etc checked

ah right so just take them for a check? I could take them both at the same time saves time then

It also depends on what kind of vaccination is given the first time. Last year my cats were vaccinated against cat flu and distemper with Nobivac tricat trio so this year and next year they only need to be vaccinated against cat flu since the shot from last year is valid against distemper for three years.

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

ah right so just take them for a check? I could take them both at the same time saves time then

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Yes that's all i'm doing now. He started saying that he didn't like giving injections unless they were necessary because of tumours, and that's a subject that's been on the site many times, so he said unless they were going outside he didn't see the need for them.

He's the only vet that's been up front and honest with me, because all the others were "Oh no!, you have to give them their shots regardless!!".

£££££ that's what they saw, because they had more overheads and more staff to pay for more like!

hmmm i know my vet is good with what they do and dont need and didnt charge for some of the checks ive taken them in for so i think i might have a decent vet this side of the river lmao