So pissed at my veterinarian right now...

naughtoj

naughtoj

Cathlete
Ok, so are sick animals supposed to receive vaccinations?

I took my kitty to the vet for an URI and they basically gave me a sales pitch about her needing Feline Leukemia and FVRCP vaccinations. I said I wasn't sure about her needing them. The assistant said, "Oh, I'll let the doctor talk to you about them" and when the vet came in she already had them drawn up and everything and was literally administering them before I could say no. I was sort of pissed because I thought isn't there anything I should know about these vaccinations? Side effects? Pros and cons? They simply blurted out that she hadn't had them in five years and she needed them.....I didn't get any paperwork, no signs to watch out for...NOTHING.

She is an all indoor kitty and they said that that did not matter since "a lot of this stuff they catch from humans" (yeah, right)..... Ok, so fast forward a couple days and my cat is sicker than ever! The first night she was throwing up all over the place and completely listless--1000X worse than when we took her in. She has had this URI before and all it really causes is some runny eye discharge and runs its course in a few days. This time, I just decided to take her in.

WHY would they vaccinate a cat that was already sick? Isn't that a no-no? If she is still this lethargic and despondent on Monday I am going to call and complain big time! This is the only thing I can figure has caused her to be so despondent. She looks so run down, like she can barely tolerate walking around the house! Her eyes are literally discharge free but she seems sicker! Plus, both hubby and I are sick with colds/viruses and we wonder: DID she get this from us??

Any comments on this?
 
I'd be pissed too, if I was you. Here are the general guidelines for vaccinations.

- When possible, give individual vaccines, not combinations (some vaccines only come as combinations, and there is no option to give separately)

- Never give a vaccination while other procedures are being performed, such as dentistries, surgery, grooming and boarding (these situations are already creating stress to the immune system)

- Never vaccinate a sick animal, no matter how mild the illness

- Never vaccinate a pregnant animal

- Do not vaccinate at too young an age as they still have maternal immunity which prevents the vaccine from working

I am the wrong person to comment on this though, I think our pets are over-vaccinated as it is. I only give my pets the initial rounds of shots and no further vaccination afterwards (other than rabies for the dogs which is required by law in AZ). My vet is fine with it, I think they usually recommend every 3 years, but she says an argument could be made for vaccinating less rather than more.

I don't think cats can get a cold from humans, not sure though and I am not a vet.

In any case, I would definitely make a big stink with that vet and I would find another vet!

Sorry for what you are going through, I hope your kitty will be better soon. And I hope you and your DH will be better as well.

Take care,

Carola
 
Janice,
My kittens had URI's when I first adopted them from the Humane Society, sometimes called "kennel cough," but that term is a little mild.
Madrid, my younger one, was on the same medicine I had when I had bronchitis and on steroids. I had to bring them back later, healthier,for their other shots. My vet was concerned about Madrid getting aneumonia from the URI, which can happen to humans as well.
IMO, you have every reason to be upset. The URI should be treated first to get your kitten healthy enough to have Feline Leukemia shots, with your permission, of course. And, yes, I agree to make a big stink about it too-until your baby is healthy again.
Do you have an emergency vet clinic to take your kitten to? Keep an eye on her to make sure she eats and drinks and is socialable.

My heart goes out to you. Hope you all get better soon.
 
I think any vaccine is an injection of the disease itself in a mild form, causing the body to build up antibodies. If you kitten was in a weakened condition to begin with, they shouldn't have been administered. I'd be mad too.

Cats don't catch human colds or flus. But Distemper, Feline Herpesvirus and calicivirus and Chlamydia virus' are transmitted through the air. So even indoor kitties can get them.

Rabies and Feline Leukemia are only transmitted if there's contact with an infected animal. An indoor cat shouldn't need them.

Here's a site: http://www.petcaretips.net/feline_vaccinations.html that explains it all very well.

I hope your kitty makes it. Is she eating?

Diane
 
I ALSO HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH A VET WHO I, AT ONE TIME ADMIRED AND TRUSTED.

I HAVE 5 ANIMALS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN HIS OFFICE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER OVER THE PAST YEAR.

I ALWAYS PAID MY BILLS, NEVER COMPLAINED AND ABOVE ALL TOOK CARE AND LOVED MY PETS. I REALIZED OVER THE PAST YEAR, HOW MUCH WE WAS PUSHING PRODUCTS ON ME AND OTHER PEOPLE (MY NEIGHBOR ALSO USES HIM).

IT IS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A MONEY MAKING MACHINE FOR HIM. I KNOW VETS NEED TO MAKE A LIVING ALSO, BUT I ALSO I THINK IT'S UNETHICAL FOR THEM TO SELL YOU ANYTHING YOUR PET DOESN'T NEED.

REMEMBER THIS MOTTO, THE CREED THAT VETS FOLLOW "FIRST DO NO HARM". SO, ETHICALLY, IN SOME OF THEIR MINDS, IF THEY SELL YOU A SUPPLEMENT OR FOOD OR VACCINES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SHOWN TO HARM YOUR PET,BUT THAT YOUR PET MAY NOT NEED, THEY ARE NOT VIOLATING THE "CODE".:-(

KEEP IN MIND, THERE ARE SOME VERY CARING INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE THAT HAVE DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO HELPING ANIMALS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE TO WEED THEM OUT.

I LEARNED MY LESSON THE HARD WAY. SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR BABY :(
 
The vet where I used to take my animals is notorious for selling you all these things. I left that practice and went to another vet and have been so much happier.
 
She is doing better, everyone! Thank goodness!

I am going to the vet today to get her labs (they were supposed to call ME, grrrr) and complain!

Thanks!!!
 
It is my understanding that feline leukemia virus is transmitted cat to cat.

I love cats and have lost several to feline leukemia.

However, there is now treatment for feline leukemia, whereas when I had cats there was no cure.
 
She was tested for FLV and FIP, both negative.

She has relapsed a bit now. Now she is tearing and squinting in the other eye, poor baby. If she continues the squinting I plan to go ask for pain meds now that her labs are in... I went to the vet today and complained. They apologized and basically said that the vet made a judgement call as to whether to administer the vaccines. They did say that normally they do not give vaccines to sick animals or those running temps, but there is a "gray area". Basically, I told them I thought it was irresponsible on their part to not provide me with any literature or verbal explanation on what to look out for as a vaccine reaction. Apparantly my cat had one. They said because my cat had been vaccinated before that they assumed she would not react. I told them, not so, just because you don't have a reaction one time doesn't mean you can't have one next time!

They gave me another course of antibiotics free of charge since I have been having a hell of a time getting this medicine down my spoiled cat's throat!! Grrr. I just hope her immune system is not so suppressed for a reason! Her blood work all came out good except for platelets being a bit low and low lymphocytes, but apparently neither were significant enough to mention because they said her labs "look great".

Can't believe the little fatty doesn't have diabetes! And her cholesterol is better than mine! ha ha ha}( ;-) }( ;-)
 
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