To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate

[krazyaboutkatz]

Hi, I thought I'd get some help and advice from you about Sky. I had mentioned that he has his annual allergies again. He started out with sneezing attacks and then became very stuffy. Now his right eye is all goopy. I broke down and took him to the vet on Tues. morning. He has conjunctivitis in his right eye and I'm now giving him an antibiotic ointment for it. I'm also giving him some allery pills to see if this will help him. He also broke out with feline acne and I'm also treating him for that.

The more I thought about it the more I think that he's been having a reaction to his annual FVRCP shot. This always happens the same time each year and it usually happens 1-2 weeks after he's gotten his shot. The vet even agreed that this could be the case. He told me to wait a good 6 months after his regular scheduled time for his shot and then if he still becomes sneezy and stuffy then we know it's due to allergies. If he doesn't and then it happens after he gets his shot, then we know it's due to a reaction to the shot.

I have to find out if the vet's office is using a shot with a live virus in it or not because I don't know at this point. My questions are as follows. What would you do in this case and how important are FVRCP shots for indoor only cats? I know that some vets feel that cats only need them every 2-3 years but most still insist on cats getting them yearly. Sky's 4 years old and I hate to see him suffer every year if I can do something to prevent it.

Thanks for reading this.

[Don Juan's mom]

Sorry, I can't help you. I took Don Juan and Zerlina for their shots on Saturday, and the only reaction they had was a few hours of not speaking to me.

Liz

[Terminalvelocity]

There's a lot of controversy over this issue and in my opinion, the answer is still up in the air. Personally, I'd do what your doctor suggested... wait next year and see if Sky gets the alergies without the vaccination.

One thing though.. We become very close to our pets. We see them every day and we might not notice things that a trained professional will spot right away. So, even if you decide against the yearly shots, an annual examination is really necessary. Twice a year is even better, but at the cost now..

I hope Sky gets over his problems quickly and never has them again.

[sirrahbed]

I am sorry to read about Sky, and that he is so miserable right now.

The idea about postponing or skipping his shot is a good one. That sounds really odd that his allergy breaks out so soon after his vaccination.

Hope he is feeling better real soon

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Aw my dahling, this is your beloved Maya speaking!
You don't like those shots my dear? Don't worry, neither do I nor my sisters! I wonder what the darn vet would say if HE got a shot in his neck every year !! Please be better soon, my dear, feeling lousy is no fun for a cat...
Thousands of nose-kissies!!

your Maya

[Laura's Babies]

I would put them off from now on until after "allergy season" and see if it is actual allergies or that shot.. If it is that shot, I would give not getting them every year a whole lot of thought.

[smokey the elder]

A lot of vets in my area have 2 or 3 year distemper shots. Maybe this would be better for Sky. You could also have him titrated for distemper antibodies, to find out if he even needs a shot.