Vaccinations - Overkill on my first vet visit?

Age:

4 year old domestic longhair male

Shelter History: 

Dec 3 / 2013 - Neutered 

Dec 18 / 2013: FVRCP / Revolution / Strongid T  (Recommend 1 month later - Jan 18 / 2014 - FVRCP / Revolution / Strongid T) 

January 9 / 2014: Rabies Vaccine - 1 year (Recommended 1 year later -  Jan. 9 / 2015)

Adoption:  

January 10 / 2014 

Veterinary Visit: 

January 16 / 2014 

-Reason: shots per shelter recommendation above, scratching ears, cloudy left eye.

-Results: no scratch on left eye - conjunctivitis determined, eyes drops to be administered 3x daily for 2 weeks.

-Results: tested negative for ear mites, ear drops to be administered 2x daily for 2 weeks.

-Discovery: Level 4 to 5 heart murmur - recommendation echocardiogram.

-Fecal sample sent away to labs 

Shots - FVRCP/C & FLV#2, Fel-O-Vax LvK IV + CaliciVax 

I asked this previously but it was buried in someone else's thread,so I thought I'd start a fresh thread. 

To be specific, why did the Vet. I went to on Jan.16th, give another round of FVRCP/C & FLV#2 (whatever that is) to an adult cat, ~ month after the first FVRCP?

At the most, shouldn't it be yearly, or at the minimum 3 years like many of you folks recommend? 

It should also be mentioned that he didn't ask me if he was an indoor or outdoor cat. 

He's indoor only, YET, at some point in the future - may come into contact with a golden retriever who obviously goes outside. 

Are there different dosage strength FVRCP and Rabies shots? 

thanks once again,

Marc

I don't think there was a necessity for another FVRCP.  They do that with kittens but I don't think it's necessary with an adult.  The leukemia shot isn't necessary with an indoor cat so I wouldn't get that one again.  I don't know anything about FLP.  Are you sure it wasn't  FIV?  FIV has the common misnomer of feline aids.  A cat that has this vaccine will always test positive for it on the snap test.  I think there is also a shot for FIP but it isn't very effective, if it were there wouldn't be well cared for and loved kitties coming down with FIP

(1) I think I typed FLV [not FLP].

I'm reading right off the the Vet. treatment history that I asked him to print off. 

(2) What about the potential of a family member's golden retriever coming to visit and licking the cat - potential for worms from the dog?  

I'm pretty sure she likes to eat poop.  If that's the case, should I get the cat dewormed every year, or pills to give? 

(3) Rabies - it's required by law here.  Although I'm not sure if every year is required or if dosage is different for every 3 yrs. 

Marc999 said:

 
(1) I think I typed FLV [not FLP].

I'm reading right off the the Vet. treatment history that I asked him to print off. 

(2) What about the potential of a family member's golden retriever coming to visit and licking the cat - potential for worms from the dog?  

I'm pretty sure she likes to eat poop.  If that's the case, should I get the cat dewormed every year, or pills to give? 

(3) Rabies - it's required by law here.  Although I'm not sure if every year is required or if dosage is different for every 3 yrs. 

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I agree with Denice that older cats usually don't need the second booster for FVRCP. This is normally needed for kittens only.

It is a good idea to have your cat de-wormed every year if she/he goes outside. I get mine done every fall using a broad spectrum de-wormer such as Drontal. You can also use Strongid which is milder, but this does not cover Tapeworms. It might be good for your requirements, given that your cat is indoor for the most part.

For the rabies, you should be able to get a vaccine that is good for 3 years, and a non-adjuvant variety. The adjuvant variety has been found to cause sarcoma in some pets. That said, it is possible for non-adjuvant vaccines to cause tumors, just less of a chance according to studies. Here is a good article written by Dr. Pierson at catinfo.org, on the subject of over-vaccination and good food for thought regarding vaccination in general : http://www.catinfo.org/?link=vaccines 

Personally I don't allow my cats to be vaccinated every year for the typical CORE vaccines, but do get a 3 year rabies shot which is required according to local by-laws for my area, and also take the decision at that time to administer CORE vaccines, or not. With a healthy immune system as the result of a balanced diet and healthy living conditions, I don't feel that older cats who have already received vaccines, should need to be vaccinated quite so often, or at all.

Alright thanks.  

So - my cat was getting the same treatment that a kitten was. 

I'll get the FVRCP and RABIES shots once every 3 yrs. 

The cat will be indoors only, yet likely in the near future come into contact with a dog that likely will lick his face.  Should I also add that DRONTAL de-worming as well yearly?   Can a cat get worms from a poop-eating dog, that just licked his face?

Tapeworms can be transferred from cats to dogs and vice versa if worms are present in either, so it would be good to use the Drontal just in case. Worming medicine dosage goes by weight and so important to ensure proper dosage. Sometimes there can be side effects so next time you are into your vets you might want to discuss this and see about getting this medication which you can give at home.

Vets see so many animals every year that giving vaccines become very routine. Perhaps a little too routine that things get missed. I recall that it happened that my cats were CORE vaccinated last time they received the rabies as the injections will contain more than one thing. I was initially upset about this, but should have been paying closer attention at the time. Most clinics are understanding if you make it clear if you do not wish to vaccinate for certain things, or as often.