What vaccines do you think are optional?

allenboy · Aug 24, 2011

I got a reminder card in the mail from my vet regarding yearly vaccinations for Allen. I remember hearing more than one person talk or write about how vets will push certain vaccines even though they might not be necessary.

Sept 2011, Allen is due for:
FVRCP annual
Feline leukemia annual
Rabies 1 year (feline)

Allen is a 1 year and three months, strictly indoor cat. The only cats he interacts with are my sister's cat who is indoor and my parents' cat, also indoor. All three are given their monthly flea and worm treatments.

Money is tight for me until my student loans come through (probably second week of September), so is it necessary for me to get all three or are one or two okay to forgo?

Thanks

darkmavis · Aug 24, 2011

I only get the rabies shot for my cats, who are indoor cats. I do take them out in the back yard with a harness and leash sometimes, but since they don't come into contact with any other cats, my vet agreed that just the rabies is sufficient. She even said pretty much the only time they'd be exposed to anything is when they're at the vet's office!

I know rabies shots aren't even required in some cities/counties/whatever, but I think it's a good idea to have it in case a bat or squirrel or something gets in the house and the cat gets it. Best to be safe.

gloriajh · Aug 24, 2011

Boy! a can o' worms with that question.

Feline Leukemia - only necessary if living outside, or in a cattery, imho. There are reports of big issues with this vaccine.

Some say that vaccines are overused.

Me, well - I have a FeLV cat - he's separated from the others - and, I believe that giving my other cats the vaccine is more dangerous than not giving them the vaccine - but then, I'm the one that will have to live with any of the consequences of my decision.

If your cats are inside 24/7 - I'd say forget the rabies - but in some towns, even inside cats are required to have the rabies vaccine. The danger being if the cat escapes.

Do a Google and you'll find varied pros and cons - but then you can weigh your own situation, the health of your cat(s), and flip the coin.

If I have time, I'll try to find the resource links that I've come across.

Sorry, I'm no help - just my opinion - and I don't like any of the vaccines - once they get their first vaccines, that's it unless something changes my mind.

gloriajh · Aug 24, 2011

Here's one link:

Vaccines for Cats: We Need to Stop Overvaccinating

Lisa A. Pierson, DVM

http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines

... Overview

A vaccination is a preparation of microorganisms (pathogens), such as viruses or bacteria, that is administered to produce or increase immunity to a particular disease. There can be no disputing that vaccines save lives but they also have some serious side effects which will be discussed on this webpage. ...

...It is very important to understand that no vaccine is 100% safe. ...

... However, it is also very important to understand that vaccines save lives and there can be no debating that fact....

... To repeat much of what I have said above: There is nothing in the scientific literature to support annual vaccination with the FVRCP and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) vaccines.

It is well-known that:
the vaccines commonly used for cats confer immunity for much longer than 1 year - and actually provide lifelong immunity in most instances for panleukopenia

adjuvants contained in killed vaccines put cats at risk for fatal tumors (sarcomas)

even the non-adjuvanted FVRCP vaccines have caused sarcomas, as have the PureVax vaccines

natural immunity to feline leukemia is very strong by the time the cat reaches ~1 year of age

the FVRCP vaccine is strongly linked to kidney inflammation ...

...

Vaccine properties: As I have stated many times, do not ever use an adjuvanted vaccine.

...

teamcarp33 · Aug 24, 2011

I really don't think the PCR (or FVLCP or whatever its called), should be considered optional, even if the cat stays inside. This protects against extremely virulent diseases like Panleukopenia that can kill a cat in just a day or two. That disease is in the Parvovirus family, and can be spread through contact with shoes, clothes, etc. You could walk somewhere where a feral or outdoor cat has been and bring the disease right into your house! Many vets say that the Feline Leuk. vaccine isn't generally necessary, as long as the cat is not exposed to untested (or positive) cats. That disease is spread through "extended cat on cat contact",so you don't have to be concerned about bringing it in on clothes etc... Same with rabies, although it may be required by law.

gloriajh · Aug 25, 2011

Excerpt from http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines

re: recommendations for vaccines for adult cats - ''Adults: panleukopenia

FVRCP:

Most people are familiar with the abbreviation 'FVRCP' which stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (herpes), Calici, Panleukopenia. FVRCP is a combination vaccine that includes 3 out of the 5 vaccines that will be discussed on this webpage.

This vaccine can either be modified live (NON-adjuvanted) or killed (adjuvanted). The route of delivery can be either injectable or intranasal.

Only use a modified live (NON-adjuvanted) - never a killed (adjuvanted) - FVRCP vaccine, with injectable (not intranasal) being the preferred route of administration in most, but not all, instances.

To clarify - all modified live vaccines (MLV) are NON-adjuvanted.

...

Panleukopenia: This is a highly contagious virus that infects the intestines causing severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting. This disease has a very high mortality rate.

Do not let your kitten go unprotected from panleukopenia. This virus can cause a very cruel death.

My suggestions: ... Kittens ...

... Adults:

I do not repeat the FVRCP vaccine past the kitten shots - or past the 1-year booster as discussed above.

We must stop vaccinating with FVRCP every year.

Taking it one step further, I also disagree with the AAFP guidelines which suggest giving the FVRCP every 3 years since the risks outweigh the benefits.

Why?

Consider the facts that enter into the risk-benefit analysis:

1) A single, properly-timed, FVRCP vaccine confers life-long immunity to panleukopenia (the most serious disease among the 3 that the FVRCP targets) in the vast majority of cats. Those very few cats that may not be protected are considered to be 'non-responders' and giving them more vaccines is unlikely to help. ...

(Quoting Dr. Pierson, DVM)

arlyn · Aug 25, 2011

Personally, once a cat has gone through its first series of shots and following boosters, all vaccines are optional.

My two younger cats get rabies vax, its required by law here.
The dog and oldest cat do not as both had life threatening reactions, both also have waivers signed by vet.
Dog gets parvo vax.

Blood titer on my oldest cat yearly has shown that sufficient quanity of antibodies remain in her system, its been 8 years since she's had any vax whatsoever.

Really not much different with humans, once all of the juvenile shots and boosters have been given most are no longer needed.
We don't get annual vax throughout our life.

teamcarp33 · Aug 25, 2011

It's true that we don't repeat them throughout our lives. I guess the security of the yearly shot is worth $20 to me, and my vet recommends it...

Willowy · Aug 25, 2011

It's hard for anyone, even a vet, a vet to argue with the AVMA. . .here are their recommendations:http://www.avma.org/avmacollections/...229_9_1405.pdf

OK, that's a lot to page through, LOL. Table 2 has the chart with the recommendations by type of vaccine. Basically, for the FVCRP it says "A single dose is given 1 year following the last dose of the initial series, then no more frequently than every 3 years", for rabies (unless Purevax is used--then it needs to be given annually) it says "2 doses 12 months apart, then every 3 years or as required by state or local ordinance", and for FeLV it says "booster inoculation is recommended only in cats considered to be at risk of exposure".

So, in a nutshell, if your kitty doesn't go outside, skip the FeLV vaccine. Get his rabies and FVCRP boosters this time, but he won't need the rabies vaccine again for 3 years (unless it's Purevax---ask your vet), and the FVCRP vaccines confers immunity for at least 7 years (as discussed elsewhere in the paper).

allenboy · Aug 26, 2011

Originally Posted by Willowy

So, in a nutshell, if your kitty doesn't go outside, skip the FeLV vaccine. Get his rabies and FVCRP boosters this time, but he won't need the rabies vaccine again for 3 years (unless it's Purevax---ask your vet), and the FVCRP vaccines confers immunity for at least 7 years (as discussed elsewhere in the paper).

Great, thank you - very concise and simple.

Thanks everyone

ann1688 · Aug 28, 2011

I just recently started working as a receptionist/tech at a vet clinic and I had a question about vaccines. My cats have only had their kitten shots and rabies yearly. I was wondering if maybe it would be useful to get the FVCRP each year because potentially I could transmit it to my cats, or is that even a risk? I would just ask the vets but they are always pushing yearly vaccines. Would getting the FVCRP every 3 years be enough? Or do you think continuing with not vaccinating is fine. I know you guys are not vets but your opinions would be appreciated.

cat person · Aug 28, 2011

Originally Posted by AllenBoy

I got a reminder card in the mail from my vet regarding yearly vaccinations for Allen. I remember hearing more than one person talk or write about how vets will push certain vaccines even though they might not be necessary.

Sept 2011, Allen is due for:
FVRCP annual
Feline leukemia annual
Rabies 1 year (feline)

Allen is a 1 year and three months, strictly indoor cat. The only cats he interacts with are my sister's cat who is indoor and my parents' cat, also indoor. All three are given their monthly flea and worm treatments.

Money is tight for me until my student loans come through (probably second week of September), so is it necessary for me to get all three or are one or two okay to forgo?

Thanks

I would say all those shots are safe/needed for a normal domestic cat!

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

Boy! a can o' worms with that question.

Yes they did

. But I do it all the time so no worries if you ask me

?

Originally Posted by Ann1688

I just recently started working as a receptionist/tech at a vet clinic and I had a question about vaccines. My cats have only had their kitten shots and rabies yearly. I was wondering if maybe it would be useful to get the FVCRP each year because potentially I could transmit it to my cats, or is that even a risk? I would just ask the vets but they are always pushing yearly vaccines. Would getting the FVCRP every 3 years be enough? Or do you think continuing with not vaccinating is fine. I know you guys are not vets but your opinions would be appreciated.

I would ask the veterinarian you work for or ask a licensed veterinarian you trust. But this list is a good start in my humble opinion:FVRCP, Feline leukemia, Rabies 1 year (feline).

fleshflowers · Aug 30, 2011

My kitty is only getting her distemper plus needed boosters, her last one after 16 weeks and her rabies, that's it. No leukemia vaccine, she is an indoor only kitty.

What vaccines do you think are optional?

allenboy

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darkmavis

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gloriajh

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gloriajh

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teamcarp33

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gloriajh

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arlyn

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teamcarp33

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Willowy

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cat person

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