Pet talk


Vaccinations and your cat

Those of you who have cats are in an information quandary when in comes to what — if any — vaccinations to use on your cat. With the information superhighway there is sometimes too much information. Bottom line: it is best to discuss the ideal vaccination protocol with your veterinarian.

I would like to discuss the basics and what I feel are the important facts concerning what vaccines should be considered and with what frequency these should be given. Many factors need to be considered; all have to do with designing the most reasonable vaccination program for your cats’ lifestyle and possible exposure to disease. Some of the factors that you and your veterinarian need to consider are:

1. Is the cat strictly indoors or does he or she go outside?

2. How old is your cat?

3. What diseases has the cat had?

4. Do you have more than one cat?

5. Is your cat ever boarded?

6. Does your cat go in for grooming?

7. Where do you live? What part of the country or the world do you call home?

8. Do you travel with your cat?

9. Is your cat used for breeding?

10. Is your cat currently healthy? (Some existing diseases may preclude vaccinations)

11. To what type of wildlife is your cat exposed?

12. Are there people in the house who are immune compromised? (People with AIDS or chemotherapy patients)

Currently there are several vaccinations that can be considered. There are a few diseases for which all cats should be vaccinated. These are rabies, feline distemper, feline upper respiratory and leukemia. These diseases are either very contagious or lethal to the cat. Rabies is a virus that is not only lethal to the cat, but communicable to man. The other diseases that I would like to discuss are ones that need some consideration and thought as to whether your cat should be protected by vaccination.

With cats that have a risk of exposure the following vaccinations should be considered. (It is important that you and your veterinarian decide what a risk of exposure is for you and your cat under the specific circumstances of your cats’ lifestyle.) Chlamydia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, Feline Immunodeficiency virus, Giardiasis, Bordetella, and Ringworm vaccination are all diseases to consider. I will describe each of these diseases in brief detail for your information so that you can discuss them with your veterinarian.

Chlamydia is a bacterium that looks like an upper respiratory disease in your cat. The eyes are red and the animal sneezes and has ocular and nasal discharge. This bacterium is transmitted by contact with other cats and affects the young cats most severely. Cats from multiple cat house holds and those that are allowed outside or are boarded should have this shot on an annual basis. This vaccination does not prevent the disease but animals that become infected that are vaccinated are not as sick as non-vaccinated cats.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a virus that is passed in the stool. The virus infects cats orally and the very young are most at risk to acquire the disease. Once a cat is diagnosed with the disease there is no treatment that cures the disease but only makes the animal comfortable. All cats that get FIP will die of the disease. Cats that are at risk are the young, outside, or from multiple cat households.

Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a virus of cats that is in the same category as HIV that humans get. This virus rarely kills the cat but they are subjected to multiple bouts of infections and can pass the disease on to other cats. This virus is shed in the saliva, urine and stool of the cat but does not live outside the body very well. Consequently this is not transmitted very easily but cats in multiple cat households, cats that are outside and cats that are boarded in community cat facilities are at risk.

Giardiasis is an infection with a single cell parasite. This is water borne, and fish ponds and bird baths can harbor the parasite. The parasite is ingested from grooming an infected cat or drinking water that is contaminated. The infected cats have severe diarrhea that is easily treated once diagnosed but re-infection is always a problem. Cats that frequently have bouts of diarrhea and are diagnosed with Giardia should be considered for this vaccination.

Bordetella is a bacteria that can cause disease of the respiratory tract in cats. The disease is similar to the disease we see with an upper respiratory tract virus. Cats in multiple cat households, outside cats and cats that are frequently boarded should be considered for this vaccination. This is another one of the vaccinations that usually does not prevent the disease but makes the disease less severe when contracted.

Lastly, we have a vaccination for ringworm. Ringworm is actually not a worm at all but a fungus. This is a disease that plagues cat breeders, usually those of long-haired cats. Because the disease is predisposed in some breeds and becomes an environmental problem (the spores are very resistant and live well in the house and the soil) this vaccination should be considered only in special circumstances.

The vaccination protocol has come under scrutiny in both human and animal situations. While vaccinations can cause lots of side effects, the pet caretakers need to work with their veterinarians and decide what risks, both pro and con exist for each individual animal and each individual circumstance.

Dr. Greg McDonald practices at McDonald Animal Hospital, 225 S. Milpas St., Santa Barbara, and can be reached at 730.1764 or by fax at 564.8764. Faxed questions may be answered in future Pet Talk columns. McDonald also produces PetPointers, a nationally syndicated radio show that can be heard on KTMS AM 990 Saturday at 11 a.m.