Cat & Dog Booster Vaccinations

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[becksW]

It's not the end of the world for him to miss his vacc now, esp if he's been vacc every year previously.

However the draw back to that is the lack of ck up which is actually more important now he is older. If you can afford it senior cats and dogs should have health ck at least once a year preferably with blood tests so we can pick up problems early.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people bring in their elderly pets that are in extremes because they are suffering e.g. kiney failure only to announce how proud they are that their pet hasn't been to a vets for years. What they don't realise is if we'd seen their pet sooner we could have given it a much more comfortable life in it's latter years.

[Zip106]

Also, kennels/cattery will need the animals to have an upto date inocs before they'll take them in.
Just if you're thinking of going on holiday.....

My 2 dogs are 14 and 15 years old, both relatively healthy but the oldest is still going for his 'MOT' and booster next week.

[Vron]

I wouldn't bother unless you are going to need to use a cattery.

My last cast was vaccinated and she died of FELV. During my extensive research on the subject before she died I discovered that most cats if they have it die before the age of 3 and then it is only transmitted by deep bites / scratches or prolonged sharing of feeding bowls or from mother to kitten etc.

[becksW]

Vron said:

I wouldn't bother unless you are going to need to use a cattery.

My last cast was vaccinated and she died of FELV. During my extensive research on the subject before she died I discovered that most cats if they have it die before the age of 3 and then it is only transmitted by deep bites / scratches or prolonged sharing of feeding bowls or from mother to kitten etc.

Consequently the number of FeLV+ve cases I see have dropped since vacc became available. Cats should be vacc as kittens before they start going out so the only risk then is if they are born with it.

No vacc is 100% guaranteed but it is better than none. Also there is still cat flu (horrible, horrible condition for cats to suffer) and enteritis- not seen as often due to vacc.

I still think a cat should have annual health ck's even if decide not to continue vacc.

Edited by becksW on Thursday 22 October 07:32

[nick_j007]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I would not take him unless you have health concerns.

I don't give my cat or dogs boosters at all. I nearly lost a dog after one if its vaccination. This is an increasingly common approach for many owners.

Here: http://www.irishwolfhounds.org/vaccination.htm

It's not a simple subject, but I choose not to vaccinate.

[becksW]

nick_j007 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I would not take him unless you have health concerns.

I don't give my cat or dogs boosters at all. I nearly lost a dog after one if its vaccination. This is an increasingly common approach for many owners.

Here: http://www.irishwolfhounds.org/vaccination.htm

It's not a simple subject, but I choose not to vaccinate.

Your choice, fair enough but have you seen dogs die of parvovirus or leptospirosis and cats die of cat flu or leukaemia, they are horrible to witness and even more distressing when you know it can be avoided.

Before the parvovirus vacc was made in the 80's whole streets of dogs were dieing of it. When the vacc came put vets had whole streets of owners wanting their dogs vacc.

I've been a nurse 18 years and because of vacc I'm glad to say I've never seen a case of distemper.

Now I really understand if you have lost a pet through vacc you would be against them but it is rare cmpared to the amount we vacc. Their is a lot of scaremongering amongst anti vacc groups, the way vacc are given has changed i.e. disptemper vacc is now only given every 3 yrs not annually like it used to be but lepto has to be given annually a it is a bacterial infection not a viral.

However in this cats case I don't believe vacc is essential but a vet ck up is.

The report suggests vets ignore if pets are e.g. epileptic or immunosuppressed and will vass regardless, well I know that is not true where I work, we consider the animals welfare and risk status over vacc for the hell of it, I hope this would be the same at other practices.

There will always be differences of opinions as there are re: vacc children but seeing the other side I'd never forgive myself if I let my dog pick up a disease he could so eaily have been vacc against.

There are lots of vacc's out there for many reasons and we don't use them all just those that are most relevaant for the day to day risks.

Edited by becksW on Saturday 24th October 07:49

[nick_j007]

I do give initial vaccinations at puppyhood (I get a new dog Thursday!), but no boosters thereafter.

Too many vets give boosters more frequently than (and get this!) the manufacturers suggest. Guidelines for frequency have changed, but many vets ignore it due to economic reasons in the main is my understanding.

It sounds as though your practice operates a balanced approach to boosters and so on...but this is not common in my experience as a full time canine behaviourist working with a number of practices and many new clients and their dogs each week.

The best way to increase your dog's immunity is by the way of good diet and a holistic approach to health care.

I greatly enjoy and respect this US based vets writings : http://dogtorj.tripod.com/id14.html
Very good for human health also.

He then points to this vets web site that (admittedly) suits my own views and philosophy on the matter: http://www.thepetwhisperer.com/Vaccinations.html

As you rightly point out, you need to make your own decision on such matters, but as a vet nurse you may well be 'indoctrinated' to express these views that in essence tow the veterinary medical line. I say this with respect, and is not meant to be critical to you.

As already stated...a complicated subject!

Spent some time with the M.D. of Nature Diet dog food today whislt I was at a CIDBT training session. He told me that ALL UK dogs food brands were made in two factories in the UK with slightly modified recipes and then placed into different bags!!

Nature Diet remains the only independent dog food manufacturer in the UK...and probably the healthiest wet brand available. I digress, but am inspired by this. Ive been getting dogs onto this for some time already, so it's nice to know.

Thanks,

Nick