Are distemper boosters necessary?

dianajune · Mar 18, 2013

I've been doing research on distemper shots and am concerned that Pumpkin, who is due to go to the vet's tomorrow for his booster, could get sick.

He's a stray that I took in several months ago. He went to the vets for a thorough checkup a little over a month ago, and he had a rabies shots, his first (as far as I know) distemper shot, etc. He went back in for problems with bowel movements (see other thread) and is doing better now that he's on Laxatone.

I wish I had researched this before now. I assumed that the vet said that since I don't know his medical history, he should have a booster distemper shot several weeks after his first one, so I agreed to set the appointment. Now I'm not so sure. I read about serious reactions and I don't want him to go through that.

Since Pumpkin is an indoors cat only, is this really necessary? Shouldn't the first shot be enough?

I may have to cancel tomorrow's appt anyway due to bad weather, but I'm really concerned about this.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks.

Diana

katluver4life · Mar 19, 2013

I don't know how old your Pumpkin is, but if a kitten, I would finish his kitten series of vaccines, including distemper. If he's over a year old, the 1 series should be good for at least 3 years, and I know many think they are good for much longer.

Personally, I don't vaccinate again after the kitten series up to 1 yr of age. But there is NO risk of mine getting out by accident.

Here is a good article: http://www.petplace.com/cats/the-ir...vaccines-does-your-cat-really-need/page1.aspx

orientalslave · Mar 19, 2013

Here in the UK both cat shows and catteries demand cats are up-to-date with their boosters, so those of us who show and/or use catteries keep our cats up-to-date. In my case I live alone, and I did once have the scary experience of an emergency admission to hospital and not being home for 10 days following major surgery. Because my cats were up-to-date the cattery happily took them until I was well enough to go back and collect them. The same thing happened again 2 weeks later except I wasn't in as long and I had a chest drain rather than surgery. That was a bad year...

dianajune · Mar 19, 2013

Katluver4life said:
I don't know how old your Pumpkin is, but if a kitten, I would finish his kitten series of vaccines, including distemper. If he's over a year old, the 1 series should be good for at least 3 years, and I know many think they are good for much longer.

Personally, I don't vaccinate again after the kitten series up to 1 yr of age. But there is NO risk of mine getting out by accident.

Here is a good article: http://www.petplace.com/cats/the-ir...vaccines-does-your-cat-really-need/page1.aspx

Pumpkin is about 3-4 years of age according to the vet. She was able to estimate this because of his teeth. He's a stray I took in a few months ago.

He had one distemper shot, so given that he's full-grown, isn't that enough?

I tried to read the article but couldn't access it. What did it say about distemper shots?

dianajune · Mar 19, 2013

OrientalSlave said:
Here in the UK both cat shows and catteries demand cats are up-to-date with their boosters, so those of us who show and/or use catteries keep our cats up-to-date. In my case I live alone, and I did once have the scary experience of an emergency admission to hospital and not being home for 10 days following major surgery. Because my cats were up-to-date the cattery happily took them until I was well enough to go back and collect them. The same thing happened again 2 weeks later except I wasn't in as long and I had a chest drain rather than surgery. That was a bad year...

I'm sorry about what happened to you in hospital. I went through something similar several years ago (emergency surgery, that is....I didn't have a cat back then). I'm facing additional surgery in the near future and will have to figure out who's going to take care of him when I go in.

katluver4life · Mar 19, 2013

This taken from that article, and seems to relate to your situation.

The typical vaccine is a "combination" that protects against feline distemper virus, feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus. For adult cats with no prior vaccines, two sets of vaccines given 3 to 4 weeks apart is recommended to achieve immunity.

Then thereafter:

Adult cats (over 2 years of age) that live indoor only (with no exposure to other cats outside of their home)

Annual revaccination (booster shots) is recommended the first two years after the "kitten shots"; thereafter, you should discuss the benefits and risks of annual vaccination with your veterinarian. There is no national accepted standard at this time. Because of the possible risks of vaccination – it becomes a balancing act of giving only what is needed while protecting your cat. Many veterinarians stagger booster immunizations over a number of years. The rabies vaccines should be given as recommended by local law.

Winchester · Mar 19, 2013

I would discuss this with your vet. We always make sure our cats have all of their kitten shots, but once they're adult cats, we only do rabies.....and that's only because it's the law in PA. Our vet used to push the vaccines, but when he lost one of his cats to sarcoma, he stopped. It's on our cats' charts that only rabies vaccines are allowed.

We stopped doing the other vaccines when Banshee developed a huge lump right in the area where she got her distemper shot one year. I was frantic and, I'm sorry, but I really don't know enough about vaccines, what's necessary and what can be waived. But at that point, I decided no more vaccines and our vet said it was OK. Our cats are all indoor cats with no outdoor exposure.

Now, if your Pumpkin (and we had a Pumpkin, too, many years ago

) was a stray at one time and if he is 3-4 years of age, then discuss the situation with your vet and see what they say. Tell them that you're worried about distemper, but you're also worried about sarcoma. As katluver4life mentioned, a lot of vets do think that some of these vaccines are good for longer than what the manufacturers say.

I really think you need to talk to your vet. Sorry I'm not much help to you. (Good luck with your surgery.)

orientalslave · Mar 19, 2013

dianajune said:
I'm sorry about what happened to you in hospital.

<snip>

I'm facing additional surgery in the near future and will have to figure out who's going to take care of him when I go in.

Don't be sorry, it saved my life.

My own view is a really good cattery is best - you know your cat will be safe, you know that come what may your cat will be looked after. Next best is a good pet sitter as they are accustomed to things like not letting cats out. A friend or family member is at the bottom of the list in my view.

dianajune · Mar 19, 2013

Winchester said:
I would discuss this with your vet. We always make sure our cats have all of their kitten shots, but once they're adult cats, we only do rabies.....and that's only because it's the law in PA. Our vet used to push the vaccines, but when he lost one of his cats to sarcoma, he stopped. It's on our cats' charts that only rabies vaccines are allowed.

We stopped doing the other vaccines when Banshee developed a huge lump right in the area where she got her distemper shot one year. I was frantic and, I'm sorry, but I really don't know enough about vaccines, what's necessary and what can be waived. But at that point, I decided no more vaccines and our vet said it was OK. Our cats are all indoor cats with no outdoor exposure.

Now, if your Pumpkin (and we had a Pumpkin, too, many years ago

) was a stray at one time and if he is 3-4 years of age, then discuss the situation with your vet and see what they say. Tell them that you're worried about distemper, but you're also worried about sarcoma. As katluver4life mentioned, a lot of vets do think that some of these vaccines are good for longer than what the manufacturers say.

I really think you need to talk to your vet. Sorry I'm not much help to you. (Good luck with your surgery.)

I'm going to have a talk with the vet when I take Pumpkin in on Friday. His appointment was supposed to be this morning, but when I called to voice my concerns about the shot, I was told that no appointment for me had been made. It must be that when I last took him in, they forgot to put it in their computer. So, I had to reschedule for Friday. I doubt I'll let him have the shot...heard too many horror stories about it...but I would like his weight to be checked. And his ears, as he's been scratching at one of them.

Diana

dianajune · Mar 19, 2013

OrientalSlave said:
Don't be sorry, it saved my life.

My own view is a really good cattery is best - you know your cat will be safe, you know that come what may your cat will be looked after. Next best is a good pet sitter as they are accustomed to things like not letting cats out. A friend or family member is at the bottom of the list in my view.

What is a cattery? Is that the same as boarding a cat at the vet's? As far as good pet sitters are concerned, I don't know of any. If I was to have him stay at my father's house, I'm concerned that Dad might let him out. My brother would be less likely to do so.

I have friends that I think would be pretty good about not letting Pumpkin out, but they already have a cat.

Diana

Willowy · Mar 19, 2013

It seems "catteries" are far more common in the UK/other countries not the U.S. Many boarding kennels here don't even take cats, and I don't know anyone who has boarded their cat for non-medical purposes :dk:. I guess that if it came up they could board at the vets. . .but, anyway, I've dropped my dogs off for boarding with their shots due and they just gave them the shots and charged me for them when I got back. I'm sure they'd do the same for cats if necessary. So I don't think that's necessarily a good reason for keeping shots "up-to-date" (which, since there's no official consensus on how often vaccines should be given, entirely depends on your vet's vaccination opinions anyway) in most areas of the U.S.

But the basic concept is the same---consider your individual situation, and make your decisions accordingly. Personally, I don't vaccinate after the kitten series.

orientalslave · Mar 19, 2013

I would never board a cat anywhere that boarded dogs as well as dogs in kennels bark a lot - very stressful for most cats. Would not board at the vets either as as well as dogs the may well have cats with infectious conditions there.

dianajune · Mar 19, 2013

Willowy said:
It seems "catteries" are far more common in the UK/other countries not the U.S. Many boarding kennels here don't even take cats, and I don't know anyone who has boarded their cat for non-medical purposes

. I guess that if it came up they could board at the vets. . .but, anyway, I've dropped my dogs off for boarding with their shots due and they just gave them the shots and charged me for them when I got back. I'm sure they'd do the same for cats if necessary. So I don't think that's necessarily a good reason for keeping shots "up-to-date" (which, since there's no official consensus on how often vaccines should be given, entirely depends on your vet's vaccination opinions anyway) in most areas of the U.S.

But the basic concept is the same---consider your individual situation, and make your decisions accordingly. Personally, I don't vaccinate after the kitten series.

I heard of pet owners boarding their critters at the vets. I'm not sure how often this is done for purposes other than medical, but there have been a few stories in the news about pets being put to sleep by mistake. The vet is one option I'd rather not consider for that reason. It would be as a last resort.

I'll burn that bridge when I get to it (or should I say "if," as my surgeon has been dragging his feet about my operation). If push comes to shove there are a few good people I can go to, inc. a woman who used to take care of my great-Aunt prior to her passing. Aunt Bea had a kitty that adored Carmen, one of my aunt's nurses. Carmen wanted to take Dolly when the time came for Aunt Bea to give her up, but Aunt Bea already gave her to someone else. Dolly and Carmen got along great. She's good w/animals and would respect my wishes about keeping my Pumpkin inside.

dianajune · Mar 19, 2013

OrientalSlave said:
I would never board a cat anywhere that boarded dogs as well as dogs in kennels bark a lot - very stressful for most cats. Would not board at the vets either as as well as dogs the may well have cats with infectious conditions there.

Pumpkin didn't seem upset about the barking dogs at the vets. After one of our appointments, while I was waiting for our ride back, Pumpkin seemed fascinated with the traffic at the front door. The cats go in one side, and dogs in the other. There were many dogs at the vets that day.

He saw one up close during our last visit on the way to his exam room. It didn't bother him in the least.

Then again, staying 24/7 with barking dogs would be different. That could be an issue for him. Pumpkin doesn't like loud noises.

Are distemper boosters necessary?

dianajune

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Winchester

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