New leukemia (FeLV) vaccination protocol?

lilblu

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Has there been a recent change in the leukemia (FeLV) vaccination protocol?

My veterinarian was telling me about how there was an incident with one of the cats he had recently vaccinated so he called the vaccine manufacturer to ask what to do. The manufacturer (don't know their name) said that there is a new vaccination protocol. I can't remember exactly what the vet said but I think he said that the protocol for kittens and cats up to three y/o stays the same. Then at three (or was it six?) they get one vaccination that lasts three years at which point they get another that lasts for three years and then that's it, no more. So I think they get their last one at either nine or six years old.

Has anyone heard about this?

My cats only get rabies vaccination (because it's the law) and nothing else since they're inside only cats. I have some relatives who have indoor/outdoor cats so they keep them current on the FeLV vaccinations. We were just wondering if the 10+ y/o cats will need their FeLV vaccination this year. I'd like to get more information on this new protocol. I don't want to just take the word of some vaccine manufacturer.
 

white cat lover

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I don't vaccinate for FeLV, so I can't offer advice there. Do they use you same vet as you, or a different one? Perhaps they should talk with their vet?

I have outdoor only farm cats, and no, they aren't UTD on shots. I know it sounds dumb, but given that generally speaking most are seniors, I won't vaccinate them.
 

blueyedgirl5946

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I haven't heard of any change. My Muffin and Mattie were both vaccinated this year again for it. I do know last year the vet said he was not going to give it to Speedboat because he was 13 years old. He got sick and we had to put him down in January of this year. But it was from something else he died.
 

goldenkitty45

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Until I hear different from knowledgable breeders (who are very up to date re meds - some are vets), I will NEVER give the FELV shots to any of my cats.

They get the normal 3 in 1 and rabies every 3 yrs now.

The breeders of my Ocicats have a void for health in the contracts if you ever give your cats the FELV shots.
 

mews2much

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The sphynx breeders have the same thing in the contracts.
In fact that shot killed my Lucy and none of my cats get that shot anymore.i
My cats get the 3 in 1 Distemper the sphynx get the purvax rabies shots and 3 in 1 Purvax Distemper.
 

gloriajh

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Hmmm, so -
We found out that a newly adopted (July, 2010) stray had FeFV - he's now confined inside - in a room.

there is a chance of "human error" causing him to come into contact with one of our other inside cats and we've been told by various sources to get them checked, and following two negative test results to get them vaccinated.

(in fact - Buddy has already come into contact with one cat, and, when I left to take "Buddy" to the vet - I left the door open to his room (this was before he tested positive for FeFV) , so it's possible they checked out his water, his food, and his litter pan ... ack!)

I've been feeling guilty because I'm dragging my feet to get them tested and then giving them the vaccine if they test negative

BUT -- after reading THIS - I'm confused ... do I continue to play "Russian Roulette" with the health of my cats ????

ugh!

(http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=218297)
 

taryn

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We had Maude vaccinated before releasing Attitude and Nuts in the house just to make sure. She was around 10ish so she might have already had immunity but due to her unknown vaccine history from before she was 2(she came from the humane society) and the fact that we knew she had only had 1 FeLV vaccine(when she was boarded) we decided to go ahead with it just in case. Maude had no issues at all with the vaccine.

In your case, as in mine, the benefit outweighs the risk. Cats and dogs have died from rabies vaccines and all sorts of other shots they receive. Same with human children, my son is fully vaccinated and I knew the risk when he was however minute it was. After his first shots he cried for 3 hours straight(I was late giving him his Tylenol.) I freaked out and handed him to my MIL because I had no idea what to do. My son ended up catching pneumococcal pneumonia at 3 even though he was vaccinated against and he was sick as hell. Vaccines aren't 100% but in your case the benefits outweigh the risk.

Taryn
 
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