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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 8:04:37 GMT -5
I'm beginning to lose faith in Vets. I talked to my Dad last night and he caught me up on the past few years (we haven't talked in many. many years). He took in a stray kitten a few months ago and said kitten (shelly) ended up having leukemia which she then gave to his senior cat - Persy. My Dad and his wife recently had to help Percy cross and decided to adopt two more additional leukemia positive cats from the local no kill shelter as companions for Shelly. His Vet is pushing the rabies and distemper vaccines on these three cats with severely lowered immune systems.  And of course, they are INDOOR cats. If they were to go outside they would spread leukemia to other cats and obviously my Dad isn't going to allow that. My Dad's words "they make you feel like you're a bad owner if you don't vaccinate." I assured him that not vaccinating is 100 % his choice and the right choice but I don't think he has the confidence to tell the vets no the next time their shots are due  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 8:51:24 GMT -5
It is hard butting heads with people about their beliefs, no matter how logical and informed a person may be, some in the medical field think they know better. Like you said, it is up to your father-he sounds very responsible and it is admirable that he decided to help these kitties live a normal life in a nice home. If he is never letting them outside, there is no logical reason the vet can come up with to insist on this IMO......
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Post by shilohismygirl on Aug 16, 2011 9:09:59 GMT -5
A vet shouldn't pressure you into vaccinating. It's your choice, and in many cases the healthier choice!!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 16, 2011 9:12:52 GMT -5
And to be honest- a vet should know better than to push vaccines on sick animals. Kind of makes it look like he's only in it for the money Would your dad be willing to go to a different vet? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 9:13:35 GMT -5
Actually, that's incorrect. I work in a clinic where I am told that everyday by clients, "but they're indoors." Distemper can be brought into your home on your clothing. The distemper shot also protects against upper respiratory illnesses that can be caught the same way. THEY may never go outside, but YOU DO. People also often have other pets that go outside. Same thing with heartworms... people think if their pet doesn't go outside they won't get it. But it's spread by mosquitoes, and anytime you open your door they can get inside. You don't have to be paranoid, just aware about these things. Vets often are zealous about vaccines because it's such a simple way to prevent these awful illnesses, some of which are untreatable. It's especially so when an animal already has an illness that would make treatment of yet ANOTHER one impossible. You don't want a sick cat getting sicker. Obviously there are some cases where the vaccine can't be used, and without being a Dr or knowing your cat's case, I can't say, but in general yes it's important to vaccinate pets even if they are indoors.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Aug 16, 2011 9:29:28 GMT -5
time to switch vets. my vets will not vaccinate old or sick animals.
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Post by Heather on Aug 16, 2011 10:56:52 GMT -5
I"m sorry but vaccinating these cats is over the top and dead wrong . I agree with your father and he should stick to his guns over this one. I know this is difficult and some vets can be really patronizing making you feel like you don't know anything. An animal with a compromised immune system should never be vaccinated....by the way it says so on the box and in the pamphlet that comes with the vaccine. Reading it is really, really dry and basically it says that the company is not responsible for anything that happens to your pet if the vaccine is used properly and according to instructions. I used to have it saved on my old computer. Your vet can allow you to read these instructions if you like... I actually got it off a "no vaccine" list. I am sure that you can probably download from somewhere (you can get just about anything on the internet  ) Yes, an animal that is strictly indoors can get distemper....but that being said, the likelihood is slim. In cases like this you have to weigh your risks. What are your risks of making a sick cat sicker if vaccinated.... very high....what are your risks of bringing home something that the vaccine would prevent....depending on your location...slim to none. I will play that risk rather than giving a sick cat or an old cat a vaccine. Just for the nevermind....if you give the cat the vaccine the chances of the vaccine actually "taking" are slim to none. That is a proven fact (which is one of the reasons why you don't give a sick animal a vaccine.). If you were to titer afterwards, it would show a "no titer"...that's how the body works.....feline leukemia is a compromised immune system...meaning it's "not working". So, if you give the vaccine to these cats, you will not get an immune response but you might give the cats another disease that they can't cope with. No...in all honesty....I could not condone using a vaccine on a leukemia positive cat. By the way, your parents are saints offering homes to these kitties. Those kitties deserve lovin's too, now they've found a place to be theirs. Tell your parents to stick to it and if they can find another vet. I've had vets walk through the door with the syringe loaded and told them to take them out or I was walking out. They usually rant a bit but if the animal is topmost in their mind they'll treat and be quiet. ciao JMO of course  ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 11:33:48 GMT -5
100 % agreed Heather. And Sherry this Vet is 100 % in it for the money. They had an emergency visit at 11:30 pm because of a bladder infection and blood tests showed that her blood sugar was high (at the time). This vet wanted to start her on insulin right then and there; never once considered that during an infection (and time of stress) that her blood sugar was elevated for those reasons not diabetes. Makes me appreciate MY current vet but oi, I'm scared of the vets i'm going to come across when I leave here |
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Post by katt on Aug 16, 2011 12:42:13 GMT -5
Ummm maybe I am just totally missing something here, but Leukemia is a cancer...and not contagious...  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 13:29:17 GMT -5
It's misleading Katt - feline leukemia is actually a virus and highly contractible from cat to cat |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 13:30:10 GMT -5
the disease then shows itself as a cancer of the blood
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Post by crazylady on Aug 16, 2011 15:06:37 GMT -5
I second all that heather has said your animal your choice my vet once came clean and told me vaccinating does not give 100% immunity ( not in dogs ferrets or cats ! ) it actually is giving an animal a chance of getting over the disease if it contracts it so just because your dog for example is vaccinated against distemper and parvo that does not mean it cannot contract it it means it has a better chance of surviving it than one who has not been vaccinated I actually know a neighbour whose mother lost her pedigree great dane to parvo even though he was fully up to date on all shots ! ( the parvo vaccine booster was actually given eight weeks before he contracted it and died !) your pet your choice god bless your dad for giving these kitty's a chance at love and a happy home for how ever long they have yes distemper can be walked into a home ( my house is a no shoes area lol plus I have shallow litter try outside full of disinfectant for shoe dipping lol ) but being careful can minimise the risks just my two penny's worth take care bye for now
Bev aka crazy lady
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 15:40:11 GMT -5
Just going to agree with everyone ;D
I'd not vaccinate the sick kitties - and I'd rethink going to a vet who pushes it.
Distemper is deadly, but like others have stated, the vaccine is not foolproof. It only tries to create antobodies against the pathogen artificially, in case the animal ever does encounter it, it'll be ready.
In a sick animal with a compromised immune system, the body is highly unlikely to build any antibodies against the virus - so vaccinating would be pointless. Aside from the risks the kitties would be put in.
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Post by acodlin on Aug 16, 2011 19:57:57 GMT -5
I don't vaccinate my cats anyway =/ Two of them had reactions, one had a mass that swelled up to the size of a softball at the injection site and had to be removed and the other had trouble breathing. He ended up vomiting and aspirating it and THEN had pneumonia. So I'm done, I keep them inside.. I know distemper can be brought in but I would rather risk that then have to put them through the risk of having a reaction again that is even worse.
Your dad is an awesome person to take in these sick kitties, and I wouldn't let him be pushed into the vaccinations either. If the two new kitties came from a shelter they probably already have had rabies shots anyway. Giving shots to any animal with a compromised immune system usually isnt a real good idea.
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