Booster shots for pets

[August]

I'm having a terrible time deciding whether or not to go through with getting boosters for my 4 cats who are set to go for their first annual checkup on Sunday.

I've read the horror stories and articles about whether booster shots are really necessary.

We live in Japan, and the booster shots are NOT mandatory (no rabies shots, either). The shot we are being recommended to get is a FVRCP vaccination.

These four siblings are 1 yr 3 months old and indoor only.


Can anyone please steer me in a direction?

 

[fit44]

My two boxers have had their booster shots. I use to take them to a holistic vet and had yearly titers done to see if their blood serum levels were enough that I didn't need to re-vaccinate.
I changed vets because the holistic vet was charging me $75 per dog just to walk in the office(no kidding). My new vet had a discussion with me that changed my feelings about rabies and distemper.
Rabies will put the safety of humans at risk. Distemper will most likely kill your pet. In my area, there are many stray animals, including wild life.
There are just too many irresponsible pet owners. People who are not like you and I who make sure our pets are in the best health.
In a pefect world, we shouldn't have to vaccinate. But we're not in a perfect world. I decided to fail on the safe side.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Matiana]

I don't believe in booster shots especially if you have indoor cats. My cat had her first shots when she got spayed and never again in 18 years. One vet tried to convince me to give her a rabies shot and I refused because she was an indoor apartment cat. He said she should get it just "in case" she got out. If she jumped out of my 15th floor apartment, rabies would have been the least of my worries.

 

[horseshowmom]

The information I have read and heard, seems to support skipping shots only after 3-4 years of regular vaccinations. I know many vets now offer a 3 year rabies. My biggest question regards the efficacy of feline vaccinations. I have seen statistics which claim that the feline leukemia vaccine and others (excluding rabies I believe) have less than a 40% vaccination rate. In other words, they don't work so well! So, I consider the risks associated with vaccinating vs. the effectiveness vs. the reality that if the vaccine fails or you choose not to re-vaccinate and they contract feline leukemia or aids there is no cure, only palliative care (sp?).
On the flip side, I just went through a scare this weekend with my 9 month old kitten whom I've not had vaccinated yet (poor planning on my part, time & money keep eluding me). He was showing symptoms which could be associated with distemper and the thought which haunted me was the fact that I hadn't vaccinated him yet and he could die because of it. I got lucky and after lots of TLC and homecare over 48 hours, he is back to his rambunctious self!
So, sorry if I just added to your dilemma, but that's the info I have as well as a little personal experience.
Good luck with your decision!
Becky

 

[hiitdogs]

There are just too many irresponsible pet owners. People who are not like you and I who make sure our pets are in the best health.
In a pefect world, we shouldn't have to vaccinate. But we're not in a perfect world. I decided to fail on the safe side.

Good luck with your decision.

Who is irresponsible? People who decide not to give their pets annual booster shots?? Pets being in the best health doesn't necessarily mean annual booster shots.

A lot of research has been done on the necessacity of annual booster shots for pets and it has been found that more is not better. Annual booster shots are completely unneccessary and in fact are harmful to pets. Even the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association have changed their vaccination schedule recommendation to every 3 years.

The most significant concern for both associations when changing the recommendation from yearly to every three years was the loss of revenue for vets if pet owners don't visit their vet yearly.

Just as humans don't need yearly booster shots for childhood diseases like measles or chickenpox, neither do dogs or cats need to be vaccinated every year.

The news has been slow to reach consumers, partly because few veterinarians outside academic settings are embracing the concept. Vaccine manufacturers don't want to change the vaccine label - hmmh, wonder why? Could it be that they don't want to lose the revenue? Vets, who charge $30 to $60 for yearly shots, are loath to defy vaccine label instructions and lose an important source of revenue. Aside, vets worry that then their patients will not come to yearly exams and won't fare as well without those yearly exams.

Veterinary research challenges the notion that pets need to be vaccinated every 12 months. Some of the findings:

Dog vaccines/Minimum duration of immunity

· Canine rabies - 3 years

· Canine parainfluenza - 3 years

· Canine distemper (Onderstepoort strain) - 5 years

· Canine distemper (Rockborn strain) - 7 years

· Canine adenovirus (kennel cough) - 7 years

· Canine parvovirus - 7 years


Cat vaccines/Minimum duration of immunity

· Cat rabies - 3 years

· Feline panleukopenia virus - 6 years

· Feline herpesvirus - 5 or 6 years

· Feline calicivirus - 3 years


Sources: Ronald Schultz, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary
Medicine; Fredric Scott, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine;
Colorado State University; University of California-Davis Center for
Companion Animal Health.

I have 5 dogs and 1 indoor/outdoor cat. They all have received the initial series of vaccinations recommended for puppies and kittens. At 1 year they got a booster shot. After 3 years I have the titers done and since I don't give heartworm medication to the dogs, I get blood tests done every 6 to 9 months. Rabies for dogs is required by law, so they get the rabies shot every 3 years.

If that is irresponsible, well, I guess, then I am irresponsible. I personally rather spend the money on the bloodtests than overmedicating or overvaccinating my pets. I guess it is a personal choice, based on a risk-benefit evaluation.

Aside, contrary to common belief those vaccines are not 100 % effective! Especially the feline leukemia vaccine has proven to be quite ineffective and cats can and will contract the disease despite of being "properly" vaccinated.

 

[kathryn]

The information I have read and heard, seems to support skipping shots only after 3-4 years of regular vaccinations. I know many vets now offer a 3 year rabies. My biggest question regards the efficacy of feline vaccinations. I have seen statistics which claim that the feline leukemia vaccine and others (excluding rabies I believe) have less than a 40% vaccination rate. In other words, they don't work so well! So, I consider the risks associated with vaccinating vs. the effectiveness vs. the reality that if the vaccine fails or you choose not to re-vaccinate and they contract feline leukemia or aids there is no cure, only palliative care (sp?).

I agree
I expressed to my vet my concern with shots, and what I had heard about some perhaps not being necessary to give as often, or at all after a certain time (do your research first).

She agreed that it would be fine to have three-year rabies (rabies is mandated by law) and they don't get some other shots that we didn't feel were necessary for indoor-only cats after they have had the initial shots and boosters for them for 2-3 years (I forget, but the office keeps the records).

I never could understand why the preventive shots we humans got when we were kids were supposed to give life-long immunity, while cats had to get shots every year. (Cynic that I am, I suspect the influence of the drug manufacturers and purveyors of the vaccines wanting to have a steady market!)

Your local vet will also have a better idea about the risks your pets run in their current environment. Pick a good vet (and if you don't feel you have the same agenda, find another one).

 

[SirenSongWoman]

All my cats got all their shots except the FIV, which only my cats who go outside got. They're a little tired the day after but then they're fine. Never had any trouble.

 

[FourAM]

I worked at a vet for a year about 12 years ago and I do not know how much has changed but we had several cases where the cats would get a really bad inflamation at the injection site. It would a really big ball at the back of there neck that you could kind of roll between your fingers. I was just an assistant and never did get a real explanation about what would cause this but I do know that behind the scenes it was always said that a rabies shot would last 5 years. But of course in TX the law is a rabies shot every year...
Rachel


Today I am strong

 

[SirenSongWoman]

My new vet had a discussion with me that changed my feelings about rabies and distemper.
Rabies will put the safety of humans at risk. Distemper will most likely kill your pet. In my area, there are many stray animals, including wild life.
There are just too many irresponsible pet owners. People who are not like you and I who make sure our pets are in the best health.
In a pefect world, we shouldn't have to vaccinate. But we're not in a perfect world. I decided to fail on the safe side.

Good luck with your decision.

Man, is all this true! I, too, live in an area where people don't care for their pets and there are a lot of strays. Vaccinations protect your babies and your neighbors. I was thinking about the cat I had as a child. 20 years old, indoor/outdoor, no vaccinations, no problems. But we didn't have feline leukemia and feline aids and I grew up in a place where everyone neutered their pets and behaved responsibly. It's not a perfect world, for sure.

 

[August]

Thank you all for your valuable input and information.

I feel so torn. Urgh, urgh, urgh.

Do I do the boosters this year and not again (or get them for 2 years and not again), or just not get them at all.................I wish there was clearer information.

But I definitely feel less is better.


For those of you who DON'T get boosters, do you go for an annual physical? I should take these 4 for their annual physical at least, right? Then I can talk with the vet to tell him I'd rather not get booster shots and see what he has to say....?

Urghhhhh.

 

[fit44]

Who is irresponsible? People who decide not to give their pets annual booster shots?? Pets being in the best health doesn't necessarily mean annual booster shots.

I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. People who allow their dogs to roam free without any supervision. I live in an area where wild life is in abundance. I have raccoons, coyotes, and foxes in my backyard everyday. Racoons are known rabies carriers. I have wild dogs roaming the neighborhood. Rabies is something I have to be concerned with. Because of of my surrounding living conditions, my vet advised against yearly titers. He felt they are not 100% accurate.
I vaccinate every 3 years- not every year. I have to consider my surroundings and so this is the choice I made. Is it right? I don't know. Everyone needs to make a decision based on their environment.

My girl boxer was attacked on one of our daily walks by a neighbor's dog who roams the neighborhood. I live in a semi-rural area where dogs are lucky to get fed, least of all vet care and check-ups.

That is why I chose to vaccinate. I can't risk rabies.

 

[hiitdogs]

August,

since you mentioned your kitty is a little over a year, I would give her/him that one booster shot and then you have to decide if you want to go with the every 3 year protocol or totally skip it, or do the titers and act based on the results.

I definitely would get yearly check ups. My dogs and the cat get a yearly "physical", teeth, fur, heart, etc. checked and blood test.

I don't know anything about vets in Japan, but be forewarned, some vets here in the US can get a little abbrassive when you don't want to do the yearly boosters. I had some very unpleasant experiences with some vets before I found my current vet.

Maybe when you call for the appointment and you don't know the vet, ask over the phone how they feel about yearly booster shots or whatever else is important to you. Why spend the money on a vet that you won't see eye-to-eye with.

 

[hiitdogs]

I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. People who allow their dogs to roam free without any supervision. I live in an area where wild life is in abundance. I have raccoons, coyotes, and foxes in my backyard everyday. Racoons are known rabies carriers. I have wild dogs roaming the neighborhood. Rabies is something I have to be concerned with. Because of of my surrounding living conditions, my vet advised against yearly titers. He felt they are not 100% accurate.
I vaccinate every 3 years- not every year. I have to consider my surroundings and so this is the choice I made. Is it right? I don't know. Everyone needs to make a decision based on their environment.

My girl boxer was attacked on one of our daily walks by a neighbor's dog who roams the neighborhood. I live in a semi-rural area where dogs are lucky to get fed, least of all vet care and check-ups.

That is why I chose to vaccinate. I can't risk rabies.

Cynthia,

no one of us knows if the choices we make for our pets are right. I guess we are all trying the best we can. I live in an area with the open desert right behind us, lots of coyotes and wildlife, fortunately we don't have a lot of free roaming dogs. Rabies vaccinations is not a choice here, it is required by law. If it wasn't, I am not sure what I would do about the rabies vaccination.

Sorry your boxer girl was attacked, I am glad she is okay. In my area we have leash laws, but it doesn't seem to concern a lot of people, they still walk their dogs off leash at the park where I take my dogs almost every morning. It wouldn't bother me if they could control their dogs.

Just yesterday I went to my daily walk/run with my dogs and this huge dog came charging at us, barking at the top of his lungs and the hair in his neck sticking up. And the owner yelling his name, ahem, needless to say the dog didn't listen. Great!

You mentioned you had several free roaming dogs in your area, you may want to look into carrying this spray on your walks, I just got it two weeks ago and I am sure glad I had it with me yesterday http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Direct-Animal-Deterrent-Spray/dp/B0002XKIV6

 

[kathryn]

For those of you who DON'T get boosters, do you go for an annual physical? I should take these 4 for their annual physical at least, right? Then I can talk with the vet to tell him I'd rather not get booster shots and see what he has to say....?

Yes, I take my cats in for their annual physical.
I also have comprehensive blood tests done once they get to be around 8, and every 2-3 years from then on (or when I sense that something might be off) to check major organ functions, kidneys, blood glucose, thyroid.

I think it's an excellent idea to take them in and talk to the vet about the booster shots. He'll be able to give you an informed opinion and talk to you about your options.

As for bad reactions to shots: some people advise having vets give the shots in the back leg rather than behind the neck, because if some adverse reaction would happen, like a tumor growth, a cat can live with an amputated back leg. (some cases happened in the past, but may not with newer vaccines).

 

[kathryn]

Cat vaccines/Minimum duration of immunity

· Cat rabies - 3 years

· Feline panleukopenia virus - 6 years

· Feline herpesvirus - 5 or 6 years

· Feline calicivirus - 3 years


Sources: Ronald Schultz, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary
Medicine; Fredric Scott, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine;
Colorado State University; University of California-Davis Center for
Companion Animal Health.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Thanks for posting this, Carola.
I printed it out for future reference.

 

[kathryn]

Even the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association have changed their vaccination schedule recommendation to every 3 years.

A good point.

This means that if your (American) vet refuses to go to a 3-year schedule, and insists on a once-a-year schedule without good cause, they may not be keeping up with the latest recommendations of the profession.

It would be a sign to me to look for a different vet.

 

[fit44]

Thanks Kathryn for the link to the spray. It's a good idea. My girl has been attacked twice by the same neighbor dog. We do have leash laws, but a lot of people ignore it. Our local animal control is over worked and under staffed, so they are no help. I called and they said they would send a warning letter to the dog owners. It didn't work. The same dog roams all day.
I have to walk my boxers in a different direction and I'm never alone. I wait for my husband to get home from work. He's not afraid like I am.

 

[kathryn]

Thanks Kathryn for the link to the spray.

That was from Carola. ;-)

 

[fit44]

That was from Carola. ;-)

Oh gosh I need my glasses on!

Thank you Carola

 

[jillja]

Re:booster shots

I'm very aganist booster shots. After 3 of my dogs got shots they all got cancer right after getting their shots! After each dog had their yearly shots they all got sick within 3 weeks of the shots. All were very healthy, young mix breed dogs who got lukemia, spleen, and stomach cancers. This is where the vets make their money so of course they are going to push vaccinations.
At least holistic vets will do the titer tests to see if your dog is healthy to get shots.

One more thing I would like to add. If your going to adopt a pet go to the shelter or pet rescue!!
I volunteer at my local shelter and there are tons of great dogs waiting for a good home. Many black dogs that get over looked for lighter colored dogs and puppies. People just don't notice them so my shelter has started putting colorful bandanas on them so they stand out more.

Don't buy from breeders when dogs are literally dying at shelters!!