Shots for Spica....I'm afraid to do it!

No, not at all, just that she wasn't in the best of health to begin with. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I know in human beings it is the frail and those with poor immune systems that suffer most from problems healthy people can better deal with.

Was just giving background info on her, which may or may not have affected her reaction. She has made an amazing turnaround after dental work and 6 weeks on Cosequin (for arthritis), she is doing so well!

Best of luck with Spica, whatever you decide. She is a gorgeous baby girl!

She'll be okay

{{{Hugs}}}

I have always gotten my pets all of their shots (including rabies) as well as always neutering them. None of them have ever had a bad reaction. She will most likely be just fine - but I can understand the worry!

Originally posted by Gothic_Amethyst
If it's better then how come my aunts cat (male 4 1/2 weeks)had to be rushed back to the vet this morning because he was sitting in a ball shivering? The vets say it's easier, but Scotty may die! That's why I'm afraid to take Spica. I've gotten a male and female about a year old fixed before! What if it affects Spica this way? Plus she has no chance of getting outside. She stays in my room. After what happened today, I think I'll wait until she's older...I mainly need her to have her shots.
*sorry if any part of this sounds short...I have major back pain*

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4 1/2 weeks is very young. I said 12 weeks. The Humane Society recommends they weigh 2 pounds. Just do it as early as you can after 12 weeks. Like I said, they can go into heat early and then they may get out.

Good luck and try not to worry.

When I was at the animal shelter we vaccinated thousands of cats without any serious reactions. (Mild fever and fatigue for a day are normal and not in the least serious. Humans often react the same way to vaccinations.) I know serious reactions do occur, but they are EXTREMELY rare. Allergic reactions, in the rare instance when they do occur, generally happen rather quickly after the injection and are easily treated with an antihistamine (usually Benadryl as someone else mentioned.)

If you live in the US, every state requires a rabies vaccine for every dog or cat over the age of 4 months (Hawaii may be the exception - but I believe they are required there too.) The need for other vaccines varies by area, but generally US veterinary guidelines recommend a combined vaccine (feline distemper, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and possibly chlamydia) for all cats plus FIP and FeLV where there is an exposure risk. Your vet should know the exposure risks for your area.

Historically there is an extremely small risk of injection site tumors. Studies at NC State University Veterinary School, and later supported by follow up research at other facilities, support the theory the tumors are more associated with injection volume and technique. Injection guidelines were modified a couple of years ago to correct for these issues and follow up data indicates a near zero incidence of site tumors using the new guidelines.

As for the spay surgery, old school guidelines recommended waiting until 6 months. This was changes a LONG time ago to 4-5 months. More recent recommendations are as young as 8 weeks (minimum 2 pounds as someone else previously noted.) There is some controversy about the advantages/disadvantages of performing sterilization surgery this young. An animal does heal faster at the younger age, but the surgery is more delicate, small animals are at a somewhat higher risk to anesthesia reaction, and some special smaller tools are required. Not all vets are comfortable performing this type of surgery on such a small animal, so it's best to go with your vet's recommendation. Complications with this type of surgery are extremely rare. The incidence of ovarian or testicular cancer is higher than the incidence of serious complications from spay/neuter surgery. The amount of experience your vet has in this area is important, with a more experienced vet having a much lower rate of complications. There is a vet that runs a low cost spay/neuter program here and she can perform in excess of 30 surgeries. Her rate for complications is nearly zero over the past 3 years that she has been running this program. With the thousands of surgeries I've known about over that past few years I only know of two which had serious problems, one was done by a vet I'm not familiar with, and the other by a vet student (in training) that cut something wrong.

George

CharmsDad,
You just taught me something and possibly others too

Originally posted by chelle
She'll be okay

{{{Hugs}}}

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I'm sure you and the others are right...like Lyle says, I worry too much!! {{Hugs}}

Originally posted by Hermoine
4 1/2 weeks is very young. I said 12 weeks. The Humane Society recommends they weigh 2 pounds. Just do it as early as you can after 12 weeks. Like I said, they can go into heat early and then they may get out.

Good luck and try not to worry.

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OOOPSSS I meant 4 1/2 months !!! Spica and her siblings are 4 1/2 months!! OOOPSSSSS Sorry....My backs been out and Im in pain.
I will try to fix her before she is a year old for sure. I just didnt like the reaction my aunt's cats had.

Originally posted by Mom of 10 Cats
No, not at all, just that she wasn't in the best of health to begin with. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I know in human beings it is the frail and those with poor immune systems that suffer most from problems healthy people can better deal with.

Was just giving background info on her, which may or may not have affected her reaction. She has made an amazing turnaround after dental work and 6 weeks on Cosequin (for arthritis), she is doing so well!

Best of luck with Spica, whatever you decide. She is a gorgeous baby girl!

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The vet told My aunt today when she brought Scotty back home that he had a low immune system. I still think she had it done too soon. He's not been feeling that good and had his shots only a month ago.
I'm glad she's doing well...especially with the low health she was in at first.
Thanks! You just gave Spica a ego boost

Originally posted by Suzy
I have always gotten my pets all of their shots (including rabies) as well as always neutering them. None of them have ever had a bad reaction. She will most likely be just fine - but I can understand the worry!

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I worry too much...and I've been though so much with her... I feel she is almost a child of mine. I litterly raised her from birth(well her mother and I)! I remember the stormy night they were born and from that week on I held them all. Spica became my favorite. She's long haired and even has hair sticking out between her toes and is so friendly and crazy. I just dont wanna lose her after all the memories!!

You just taught me something and possibly others too

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Thank you, I hope it helped. By the way, the spay/neuter vet here does 30 surgeries A DAY (I left that part out by mistake.)

We have 8 cats and 5 dogs in our house. None have ever had any problem with their shots or their sterilization surgeries. We've had a number of foster animals and quite a few others we've lost over the years (mostly to old age.) None has ever had a problem with the shots or surgeries. My sister has a dog that does react to the shots, but gets a shot of Benadryl just before and has no problems (he's a small Shih Tzu and they are notorious for this type of reaction.) When I was at the shelter I gave hundreds, if not thousands, of shots myself and I've given lots of insulin shots to a variety of diabetic cats, also with no problem. I know you will still worry (and I would expect you to if for no other reason than you care so much) but I also expect all will be just fine. I can only speak for myself, but I'm sure others agree with me, we are all here to give our support.

George

i just had my cat Li neutered at a few days shy of 5 months..he was FINE by the way, just groggery after the surgery and that's perfectly normal. might have waited the extra 4 weeks...but his behavior led me to believe that he was getting ready to mature sexually so i caught him before he could...

anywho!! just letting you know that no matter what age you do it at, the chances of an adverse reaction are rare. the longer you wait, the better the chance she'll go into heat, and she's going to become an expert escape artist...not to mention start calling...and being a bit of a pain.

we all love our pets, but if we hesitate to do what's good for them due to the slight risks, worse things can happen.

Imagine if you lived your entire life like that: you wouldn't even be able to go driving because you might get into an accident... in all honesty i can't think of anything we do in this life that doesn't involve a little risk.

so take a deep breath...let yourself know she'll be ok...and go get those shots and get Spica spayed by 6 months of age...

you'll be doing yourself and her a big favor and give yourself peace of mind.

{{hugs and a chin scratch to Spica}}

Originally posted by CharmsDad
Thank you, I hope it helped. By the way, the spay/neuter vet here does 30 surgeries A DAY (I left that part out by mistake.)

We have 8 cats and 5 dogs in our house. None have ever had any problem with their shots or their sterilization surgeries.I know you will still worry (and I would expect you to if for no other reason than you care so much) but I also expect all will be just fine. I can only speak for myself, but I'm sure others agree with me, we are all here to give our support.

George

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Welcome. 30!!!! Thats alot...
I'm glad everyone's here and I'm still gonna worry, but I know it's something that needs to be done. Definately her shots since I have other cats outside that she could get exposed to through me even with all the sterile precations I take.

Originally posted by RaggieMom
the longer you wait, the better the chance she'll go into heat, and she's going to become an expert escape artist...not to mention start calling...and being a bit of a pain.

Imagine if you lived your entire life like that: you wouldn't even be able to go driving because you might get into an accident... in all honesty i can't think of anything we do in this life that doesn't involve a little risk.

so take a deep breath...let yourself know she'll be ok...and go get those shots and get Spica spayed by 6 months of age...

{{hugs and a chin scratch to Spica}}

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Trust me she cant get out of my room and even if she did she'd have to figure out how to get out of the house....As for calling..I'm used to it. Grandma and my Aunts fat siamese meows everynight and she's fixed!!! She could never be more of a pain.

I already do live my life like that...I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and that's why I was so scared to take her even with all the good reasons.
{{Much purring and raising of neck for more scratches(she's spoiled)}}.

I have confidence in our vets and know they take the best care of our critters. Even though I've seen it so many times, and know the risk are extremely small, I have to admit I still worry a bit too. My wife just rolls her eyes and tells me I'm silly. (She's a physician and worries about her patients all the time, even though she takes excellent care of them, so she's not one to talk.)

I just realized the cat in your picture is a Torti. I have a special soft spot in my heart for them myself (three of ours are Tortis.)

George

Originally posted by CharmsDad
I have confidence in our vets and know they take the best care of our critters. Even though I've seen it so many times, and know the risk are extremely small, I have to admit I still worry a bit too. My wife just rolls her eyes and tells me I'm silly. (She's a physician and worries about her patients all the time, even though she takes excellent care of them, so she's not one to talk.)

I just realized the cat in your picture is a Torti. I have a special soft spot in my heart for them myself (three of ours are Tortis.)

George

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I'm afraid of doctors myself...sometimes I think my fear holds me back from totally trusting vets.

Spica is a tortie. She's longhaired and weird colored of a tortie.
Go here to see more photos if you want:
http://www.geocities.com/gothic_amethyst/Spica.html

Go here to see more photos if you want:

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What wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing them. Here are our kitties:
http://www.dogsled.net/our_kitties.htm

And here's the main site link (doggies and wolves too.)
http://www.dogsled.net

It's all a bit out of date, I've got lots of pictures and information to put up but have been very slack.

Our three Tortis:

Sheba: camped on our porch for several days begging to come in before we adopted her (that was 10 years ago.) She was 6 months old and already pregnant. We had her spayed anyway and she's a wonderful girl.

Charm: Spent 2 months at the animal shelter with no one looking at her. We were looking for a playmate for Harley, our latest kitty (our others were older and not as playful.) Charm had a magic touch on the other cats - that's how she got her name. She's the biggest lap cat of our bunch and keeps me company at the computer most of the time.

Kaybe: Spent 3 months at the animal shelter and her time was running out. I thought she was special from the day she came in and decided to take her home. She's a darling girl and spends much of her time sleeping at my feet.

I dearly love all of our cats, but I have to admit the Tortis have a special place in my heart.

George

Originally posted by CharmsDad
What wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing them. Here are our kitties:
http://www.dogsled.net/our_kitties.htm

And here's the main site link (doggies and wolves too.)
http://www.dogsled.net

I dearly love all of our cats, but I have to admit the Tortis have a special place in my heart.

George

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Welcome. I thought you'd like them since you like torties too. I need to take some new photos of her to post on my site. Those were last month.
You have several adorable kitties too! Sorry you've lost some. I have too it sucks.
Why torties? Although I have noticed my torties seem to be more friendly. Guess cause they know they're special

Sorry you've lost some. I have too it sucks.

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Yes, the losses are very sad. I've been around cats for most of my life so I've lost quite a few (I'm 48.) When my wife and I met (many years ago) I had two cats and a dog. She had never been around cats but immediately decided she was very much a cat person.

My first Torti was Sheba, the one that camped on our doorstep 10 years ago. Before that most had been Tabby cats, with an occasional solid or bi-colored one. She just has a special quality about her. Because of her I noticed the Tortis among the so many cats coming through the animal shelter and it seemed most of them were similarly special: friendly, sweet, affectionate, generally gentle, etc. I also noticed that few people actually look at them, usually selecting another type of cat. When people asked for specific personalities I regularly pointed them at a Torti, and believe I've won over quite a few to these wonderful girls (they're almost all girls - the gene for this color pattern is associated with the one for Calico - also all female. The Torti pattern is also called a type of Calico.)

George

Originally posted by CharmsDad
Yes, the losses are very sad. I've been around cats for most of my life so I've lost quite a few (I'm 48.)

Because of her I noticed the Tortis among the so many cats coming through the animal shelter and it seemed most of them were similarly special: friendly, sweet, affectionate, generally gentle, etc. I also noticed that few people actually look at them, usually selecting another type of cat. When people asked for specific personalities I regularly pointed them at a Torti, and believe I've won over quite a few to these wonderful girls (they're almost all girls - the gene for this color pattern is associated with the one for Calico - also all female. The Torti pattern is also called a type of Calico.)

George

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I hate to lose one. No matter the reason I blame myself. I could never be a vet because of that. It's ashame though cause I'm really great with animals. I just cant stand anymore death.

It;s weird how friendly they are. As for the sex, none of mine born ever were male. I always wanted one cause I know they are rare.