Question the FVRCP vaccine

All, 

Today I took my new kitten for his 3rd and final round of the FVRCP vaccine so he's good for a year. When I was checking out I asked when my grown up girl was due (should be beginning on January) and they said this year she was only due for a wellness exam but no vaccines. I thought the FVRCP was an annual booster? Am I wrong on this? 

Every 3 years is typical now, if given at all. 

You might want to reconsider the annual vaccinations of anything, unless a titre test is not accepted in lieu of the rabies vaccine legally. http://www.thecatsite.com/t/245463/do-indoor-cats-really-need-vaccines

Thanks for the link LDG- very interesting. 

I know a lot about the kitten vaccines but Ella is my first ever adult cat. They gave her the FVRCP booster last year so I just assumed it was an annual vaccine. Of course I trust my vet and if he says she is not due than she isn't I just wanted to understand it for my own purposes. 

Am I interpreting correctly that the FVRCP is give every 3 years or, in the alternative you can do a titer test and see what, if anything, they need? 

I am not a huge fan of vaccinations but because I foster for a shelter know that Ella (and now Diego) must stay current to minimize the risks of them catching something from the fosters. They are strict indoor only but you never know what germs are brought in here. 

Someone else may be able to answer your question. We only give the rabies when they're first trapped, and distemper, with the 3-week follow up the first year. They get no other vaccines at all after that. But my county doesn't require rabies.

I don't "believe" in vaccinations for indoor-only kitties (for all of the reasons provided in that thread), other than that first time. If I were rescuing kittens, I may provide others the first year - I don't really know.

Maybe I should add some more detail to my question:

This is my understanding: The FVRCP is given to kittens in 3 rounds, spaced 3-4 weeks apart. After that, I thought a booster was given annually. The FVR prevents feline viral rhinotracheitis (aka an upper respiratory infection), the C prevents calicivirus, and the P protects against feline panleukopenia (aka distemper).  Rabies is given as a separate shot and varies if is required by law. 

I agree with you LDG that a strict indoor cat with no other exposure likely doesn't need the vaccines past the initial 3 when they are kittens. But, in my situation where there are always new kittens coming in I feel it is in my resident cats best interest to remain UTD on vaccinations. Distemper is not as common but URI's and calicivirus are very common among shelter cats. 

I worry about the carcinogenic effect that vaccines can have on cats so I give all vaccinations in the legs. That way if it does form into cancer the leg can be removed as opposed to in the back in which case nothing can be done. I do give the rabies vaccine only because my State is very strict on enforcement. An unvaccinated cat accused of biting someone is automatically euthanized regardless of the circumstances. I trust my cats but I don't trust people and what accusations they can make. So, to protect them they are vaccinated for rabies. 

I just don't understand if, like I originally thought the FVRCP is boostered annually or like MM is saying that it has changed and is now recommended every 3 years (if at all). Anyone else have thoughts/input on this? 

Google for the AAHA feline vaccine recommendations (and AVMA uses their recommendations too). Even for outdoor cats, they recommend a 3-year schedule for FVCRP. Core vaccines given after 6 months of age almost certainly confer immunity for life, so even every 3 years is redundant.

But an annual check-up is NOT redundant.  The vet should check the cat's coat, ears, eyes and mouth, palpate their abdomen, listen with a stethoscope and weigh the cat.  The weight should be recorded - at my vets the computer software can display a graph of their weight gain.

I take my kitties for an annual wellness exam, but they don't get shots except every 3 years.  Hannah will never again get the FVRCP shot because the "R" part causes her to have an upper respiratory infection.  My vet said that if we moved to another county or out of state, she would order the individual vax and do it that way. 

Thanks all this really helps. I will check out that link but now that I am hearing it from more than one of you I feel more comfortable with every three years, and I will talk to me vet when the time comes about tittering them to see if they even need to be re-vaccinated. I'm sure he could order the individual shots (like yours said she would StephanieTX) if they needed one thing but not the others. 

I think part of my concern is that I just had an outbreak of Calici with my last foster litter. My adult cat didnt catch it but my kitten did. I do quarantine my fosters but that only works to a certain degree. Even taking precautions I can still carrying viruses on my hands (even though I wash like a fiend), clothes, and shoes. Because of human error I can't protect them 100% so I think the benefits of the backup vax outweigh the risks of giving them. 

And of your you are right OS nothing makes up for the annual Wellness exam. She will still have hers it will just be a month later than normal. Since she doesn't need any vaccines and I will be in the middle of studying for the bar exam the vet said it was fine to wait a month. She was just seen back in October because of the Calici outbreak and got a clean bill of health so taking her again may even be overkill but better to be safe than sorry I suppose! 

Thanks again for the help! 

FVRCP-is-commonly-referred-to-as-the-"Distemper"-shot.

The-initial-shot,per-say,for-kittens,is-in-either-2-parts-or-3-parts,forget-now,would-have-to-look-it-up,lol,and-the-time-frame,between-each-shot,is-3-weeks.The-reason-for-this,the-reason-you-don't-want-to-go-longer-than-3-weeks,is-because-the-immunity,per-say,of-the-prev-shot,wears-off,per-say.

FVRCP-is-given-every-3-years.

Rabies-is-mandatory-in-some-states.

Should-a-cat/dog,bite-you,bite-another-person,even-on-accident,it-is-mandatory-for-the-dr-or-er-to-report-it-to-the-health-dept.If-the-cat/dog,cannot-produce,a-rabies-certificate,the-cat/dog-will-be-seized,and-quaranteened-at-the-owners-expense.If-you-should-travel-thru-a-state-that-requires-it,and-you-don't-have-it,you-are-SOL.It's-mandatory-for-shows,and-the-health-dept,not-the-show-manager,will-spot-check.Anyone-who-does-not-seek-medical-treatment-for-a-bit,is-insane,you-could-die-from-it.

FeLV-really-only-needs-to-be-given,if-the-kitty-goes-outside.

I-give-the-initial,as-kittens,as-they-have-a-higher-degree-of-exposure,going-to-shows,but-due-to-the-risks,of-the-shot,they-don't-get-it-after-that.Even-my-vet-would-prefer-I-don't-give-it.

As-far-as-titering,I-looked-into-it.

It-is-very-expensive,very.It-only-covers-certain-things,not-many,and-must-be-done-at-an-ER-facility,per-say,the-vet-cannot-do-it.If-one-is-interested-in-getting-it-done,talk-to-your-vet,about-it.They-can-best-explain,the-cost,what-it-covers,and-where-it-must-be-done.

We-can-bring-in-virus's-on-our-shoes,on-our-clothes,even-if-we-did-not-touch-another-animal,or-no-one-has-been-in-our-house,hence,air-born,which-just-has-to-run-its-course.

Weather-to-vaccinate,or-not-is-a-personal-choice,and-one-has-to-do-what-works-best,for-their-kitty.

Titers don't need to be done at an ER facility (usually anyway, I don't know why your vet says so, he/she may have particular reasons) :dk:. It's just a blood test, any vet/tech can draw the blood. They just need to know where to send the blood for testing as not all labs do it. I do agree it's expensive and doesn't cover much. I would only do it if it were required to vaccinate or titer.

Willowy said:

Titers don't need to be done at an ER facility (usually anyway, I don't know why your vet says so, he/she may have particular reasons) 

. It's just a blood test, any vet/tech can draw the blood. They just need to know where to send the blood for testing as not all labs do it. I do agree it's expensive and doesn't cover much. I would only do it if it were required to vaccinate or titer.

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This is my understanding of how titers work as well. It's just something I need to look into and talk to my vet about. My vet is not a fan of over vaccinating and I know he does a lot of titers so maybe he does it cheaper? I don't know- just something I need to explore further. 

FlintMcCullough said:

FVRCP-is-commonly-referred-to-as-the-"Distemper"-shot.

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Flint: you have answered a lot of things I already previously covered. I think it would be misleading to consider the FVRCP shot as the distemper shot since it is a 3 in 1 and also protects against the most common strains of URI's and Calici. I agree that all kittens should get the first 3 doses spaced about a month apart in order for the vaccine to be most effective. 

It does vary by state if the rabies shot is required. In most places the law is an automatic hold as you are saying but in my County it is automatic euthanasia. Some places are more strict and others less so- it just varies. 

I also agree the FIV/FeLV vaccine should only be given in limited circumstances. It has some pretty nasty side effects and will make the cat always test positive for the disease(s). So, if they ever get out without identification it's straight to the gas chamber, and that's not a risk I am willing to take. All my fosters are FIV/FeLV tested before coming here so I know they are negative for that. It's the other common shelter/kitten illnesses that worry me- hence why I want to be sure I keep Ella and Diego fully UTD. 

Whether or not to vaccinate is indeed a very personal choice. For me, the risks are outweighed by the fosters and my and my cramped living quarters. I know other fosters feel differently and that's okay too. We all have to make the decision we can most live with! 

Thanks for your input! 

I-said,it's-commonly-referred-to.......as-the......."Distemper"shot.......by-the-average-joe-smith-public,who-has-not-a-clue-what-shots-are-given,or-why.

Here-is-an-explanation,of-what-FVCP-stands-for,and-what-it-covers,for-those,that-may-not-know.

http://www.chatvet.com/fvrcp.htm

EB24 said:

 I think it would be misleading to consider the FVRCP shot as the distemper shot since it is a 3 in 1 

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I questioned the first time I heard the term distemper shot on this site too, not a term used here at all (not that countries outside the US count on here). We say F3 (feline 3 in 1), F4, F5. Given 4 weeks apart, vets won't do them at 3 weeks apart here.  

Yeah, I'm guilty of referring to the combo vaccine as the distemper shot. (In real life; I try not to on the forums) Silly, I know, but easy.