Feline Vaccines and Bloodwork

Vaccinations:
Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system. Dogs, cats, ferrets, foxes, bats, and raccoon are the most commonly affected animals in this area. This disease is zoonotic, which means it is transmissible to people. It is required by law that all pets to be kept current on their rabies vaccine. For both dogs and cats, the first vaccine given at 4 months is effective for one year. Subsequent vaccines are valid for 3 years.

FVRCP is a vaccine that protects against several different diseases

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is a herpesvirus causing upper respiratory infections and conjunctivitis. It is extremely common, and is found in most shelter and breeding facilities. Common clinical signs include sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal discharge. The vaccine is not 100% protective, but does help to decrease the transmission or severity of the disease.

Calicivirus is very similar to the herpesvirus, as a common cause of upper respiratory infections in cats and kittens, but the clinical signs may be slightly more severe and involve oral ulcerations.

Panleukopenia, or Feline Parvovirus, causes a severe gastrointestinal disease similar to canine parvovirus. Clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. As with canine parvovirus, the vaccine is excellent, and its widespread use has made this an uncommon disease.

Feline Leukemia, or FeLV is a contagious disease that can remain dormant for several years, but that is ultimately fatal. Clinical signs are variable as there are many different manifestations of the disease. While fairly protective against the disease, the vaccine has been linked to vaccine-related sarcomas, so only at-risk cats are vaccinated.

Vaccine-Related Sarcomas
Recent evidence has shown that in rare cases the rabies vaccine and the FeLV vaccine (probably about 1 in 10,000) can cause subcutaneous tumors in cats. This information has changed the recommended vaccine protocols for our profession. While we cannot, by law, stop vaccinating for rabies, and should not stop vaccinating at risk cats for FeLV (the risk of contracting the disease is higher than the risk of developing a tumor), we have started vaccinating in specific sites to allow for early detection and treatment in the event that a tumor forms. The predesignated sites are right rear leg for rabies, and left rear leg for FeLV. These sites should be monitored for firm lumps under the skin.

Bloodwork

Routine screening of blood chemistries and blood cell counts is an invaluable tool in the early detection of disease. It is also important to establish baseline values to compare to when blood tests are done for diagnostic purposes. We recommend a Junior Wellness profile for young and middle aged cats every two years. This includes a chemistry profile and complete blood count (CBC). For senior pets we recommend an annual Senior Wellness Profile which is similar to the junior Wellness, but includes an expanded chemistry profile along with a thyroid level. A urinalysis can also provide some very important information about kidney function and certain endocrine problems. Unfortunately, urine samples are usually difficult to obtain from cats. Your veterinarian may discuss ways of obtaining a sample if it seems to be important to a diagnosis.