It depends on the vaccine brand and type. I need to know the entire
vaccine name to be able to advise you. For example here are several "5 in 1"
vaccines made by different companies:
Feline Focus 5, Durvet: modified live panleukopenia ,
rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and chlamydia, killed feline leukemia virus.
Fel-O-Vax Lv-K IV, Fort Dodge: feline leukemia, rhinotracheitis(a
herpes virus), calici, panleukopenia (distemper) and chlamydia psittaci.
Eclipse 4+FeLV, Schering: modified live panleukopenia (feline
distemper), rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, chlamydia, feline leukemia virus.
I'm sure there are others I did not find right off hand, but the
main concern for me is that it seems that all of the 5 in one vaccines all
contain feline leukemia. You should never ever NEVER give a cat that has feline
leukemia the feline leukemia vaccine! NEVER!
The common given "combo" vaccine is called the FVRCP
(rhinotracheitis virus, calicivirus and panleukopenia virus), and in my opinion
should be the only vaccine given in a combination form. Here's where my opinion
differs from the experts (but you'll see, there is logic behind
it).
American Association of Feline Practitioners and the The
Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force (VAFSTF) recommend that vaccines
containing rabies antigen be given as distally as possible in the right rear
limb, vaccines containing feline leukemia virus antigen be given as distally as
possible in the left rear limb, and vaccines containing any other antigens
except rabies or feline leukemia virus be given on the right shoulder, being
careful to avoid the midline or interscapular space.
Now, here's how I advise:
Rabies in the right rear limb, just like said above. BUT I give the
FVRCP vaccine in the left rear limb, and do NOT give the FELV vaccine at all
EVER. You should definately NOT give your cat the FELV vaccine, since he already
has it, so I'd advise you have your vet give his rabies in his right rear
leg, and his combo vaccine (3 in 1) in his left rear leg. The reason for this is
because vaccines have been proven to cause cancerous tumors to grow where they
are given (as often as one in every 1000 vaccines), and it's easier to amputate
a rear leg than a front leg and shoulder, and it of course, impossible to
amputate a neck (for those who allow their vet's to give vaccines in the
scruff). I believe that vaccines should only be given once every 3 years, and
many new studies do show that the FVRCP vaccine does last that long, and it is
known that there are several 3 year rabies vaccines on the market now. You
should seek out and specifically request NON-adjuvanted vaccines. The adjuvant
seriously increases the risk of sarcoma (cancerous tumor) at the vaccine
site.
The fourth component in a 5 in 1 or a 4 in 1 vaccine is chlamydia.
I advise only to give it if your vet has seen cases of it in your area, and
knows it's needed to protect your cat. It's not a serious virus, even if a cat
gets it, and IMO, not worth the rsik of vaccine associated
sarcomas:
Chlamydia is a common bacterial infection, mainly of younger cats and which
mainly affects one or both eyes and perhaps some sneezing. As you mention, most
cats are rarely very ill otherwise, and they should recover completely in a few
weeks (the prognosis is excellent). The drug of choice for treatment is a
tetracycline eye ointment (vibramycin is a tetracycline) for at least several
weeks, and there should be a good response in this time.
This page explains that calicivirus and herpesvirus accounts for
90% of all URI, and Chlamydia (also called Chlamydophila) only accounts for
10%:
It's also very fragile, and basically you need to have direct
contact with an infected cat to get contamination. Since your cat is indoors
only, and you don't run a shelter, it's basically not really needed at
all.
In short, if you feel you need to vaccinate at all, use a 3 way
FVRCP, and rabies if legally required, but don't give anything else unless you
KNOW your cat will be exposed to it in the future. I am very concerned that you
vet is advising you to give a FELV+ cat a vaccine that contains FELV. That is
very bad. That borders on "find a better vet asap bad".
Jenn
http://ucat.us
http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html
Adopt a cat from UCAT rescue:
http://ucat.us/adopt.html
Adopt a FIV+ cat:
http://ucat.us/AWrescue/FIV/
Adopt a FELV+ cat:
http://ucat.us/FELVadopt.html
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I collect KMR kitten formula labels for Bazil, a 3 yr old special needs cat who must live on a liquid diet for the rest of his life.
Bazil's caretaker collects labels and sends them to KMR, where they add up until she earns a free can of formula!
PLEASE save your KMR kitten formula labels for Bazil!
If you use KMR, even just one can, please email me for the NEW address to send them to!
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Does your cat have chronic diarrhea that does not respond to treatment, or has your cat been loosely diagnosed as IBD?
Have you tested for Tritrichomonosis? The test is new, the new drug makes it curable.
Ask me today how you can test for Trich!
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