Question about Rabies shots

[Medusa]

I'm w/TopCat3 on this one. Any vet who ignores paperwork wouldn't be my vet after that and, if he charged you for the injection on top it, that's adding insult to injury, possibly real injury. I would definitely speak up to him, have him sign that paper so that you have recourse should anything happen to Rosie (hopefully, nothing will), and teach him that he can't be wielding that needle like a freakin' sword.

Blessings,
Mary

[Lizzie]

My vet for 21 years, who has given me lots of free advice and a discount because he knows I rescue, has switched to an annual vaccine that they consider safer and far less likely to cause an adverse reaction. Having spoken to both the vets and the techs about the new vaccine, I do believe they are using it because they feel it is better for the animal. If your cat received the annual vaccine, I would feel far less concerned than if she was given the 3-year type. If it was the 3-year type, I'd follow up.

[Killer Kitten]

The vaccine is pretty safe, and there should be no side effects for your cat. One of my kittens somehow grew an abscess on his neck (probably a roughhousing incident with the other kits) and since abscesses usually appear secondary to bite wounds my vet insisted upon re-vaccinating him, even though he'd just been vaccinated two months before.

My first shelter job was at a huge shelter that processed dozens of animals every week, plus did vax clinics, etc. Double vaccinating, while not something we encouraged, certainly did happen now and then. As far as I know nobody ever died of it. I think the margin for error in most vaccines is actually pretty high - in other words you'd need a lot more than one double-dosing incident to harm your cat. (Unless he has some untoward reaction/allergy to the vaccine, which is an entirely different story.)

Hope that helps!

[TopCat3]

[QUOTE=Killer Kitten]The vaccine is pretty safe, and there should be no side effects for your cat. One of my kittens somehow grew an abscess on his neck (probably a roughhousing incident with the other kits) and since abscesses usually appear secondary to bite wounds my vet insisted upon re-vaccinating him, even though he'd just been vaccinated two months before.

If vaccines are so effective, why would it be deemed necessary to re-vaccinate within 2 months, I wonder?

It's a bit like mothers freaking out at schools because there is an unvaccinated kid in the class. If their kids have been vaccinated, what are they worried about?

Sorry if this appears like a personal attack on you, it isn't. I am just very cynical about the whole issue, for kids and animals, "they" sometimes seem to have "us" so indoctrinated and "they" put on a white coat and speak like God handing the tablets to Moses and "we'll" believe anything.

[Killer Kitten]

If vaccines are so effective, why would it be deemed necessary to re-vaccinate within 2 months, I wonder?

It's a bit like mothers freaking out at schools because there is an unvaccinated kid in the class. If their kids have been vaccinated, what are they worried about?

Sorry if this appears like a personal attack on you, it isn't. I am just very cynical about the whole issue, for kids and animals, "they" sometimes seem to have "us" so indoctrinated and "they" put on a white coat and speak like God handing the tablets to Moses and "we'll" believe anything.

I never said I thought it was effective to vaccinate, just that it was safe to double vaccinate, which is what the original post was asking.

Most vets will re-vaccinate an animal that comes in with a bite wound, even if both biter and bitee are vaccinated indoor cats. It's the theory of CYA.

At the Animal League - and at the zoo - we always vaccinated with Imrab. The zoo vets liked it because it was safe to use even in exiotic mammals that it wasn't specifically labeled for, and because it could go either IM or SQ. As to whether or not it actually prevented an animal from contracting rabies... we never had an exposure so we never got a chance to test its efficacy.

A lot of veterinary medicine, especially in areas of zoonotic diseases like rabies, is about covering your butt. Since it is safe for the animal to vaccinate redundantly, it's best to revaccinate. It won't hurt the pet and it might just be the little extra that prevents a tragedy. Since getting another rabies shot did no harm to Itchy it didn't bother me that he got one, redundant as it was.

Another good reason to vaccinate for rabies: An unvaccinated animal that has a rabies exposure is generally euthanized immediately to prevent the spread of the disease. A vaccinated animal in the same situation can be quarantined until after the incubation period is up, then returned to the owner. If vaccinating will save my pet from being euthanized, I'm vaccinating.

[TopCat3]

I never said I thought it was effective to vaccinate, just that it was safe to double vaccinate, which is what the original post was asking.

Most vets will re-vaccinate an animal that comes in with a bite wound, even if both biter and bitee are vaccinated indoor cats. It's the theory of CYA.

At the Animal League - and at the zoo - we always vaccinated with Imrab. The zoo vets liked it because it was safe to use even in exiotic mammals that it wasn't specifically labeled for, and because it could go either IM or SQ. As to whether or not it actually prevented an animal from contracting rabies... we never had an exposure so we never got a chance to test its efficacy.

A lot of veterinary medicine, especially in areas of zoonotic diseases like rabies, is about covering your butt. Since it is safe for the animal to vaccinate redundantly, it's best to revaccinate. It won't hurt the pet and it might just be the little extra that prevents a tragedy. Since getting another rabies shot did no harm to Itchy it didn't bother me that he got one, redundant as it was.

Another good reason to vaccinate for rabies: An unvaccinated animal that has a rabies exposure is generally euthanized immediately to prevent the spread of the disease. A vaccinated animal in the same situation can be quarantined until after the incubation period is up, then returned to the owner. If vaccinating will save my pet from being euthanized, I'm vaccinating.

Yes I can see your point - your last remark sums it all up, if you would otherwise lose your pet to euthanasia anyway, why wouldn't you revaccinate. I absolutely agree. And rabies, I must admit, is a whole different kettle of fish. Having lived in two countries where rabies is not an issue, (England and now Australia) I have not had to factor it into the vaccination equation, I guess I am fortunate there. I still think with regard to other diseases in companion animals and in humans, the whole vaccination controversy is a hot subject and very worrying, and emotions can run high.I lost a cat to a very aggressive cancer that began around a vaccination site so I am biased. My comments are not meant to slag anyone off, only to point to sources of info and points for consideration. Thanks everyone

[Killer Kitten]

Yes I can see your point - your last remark sums it all up, if you would otherwise lose your pet to euthanasia anyway, why wouldn't you revaccinate. I absolutely agree. And rabies, I must admit, is a whole different kettle of fish. Having lived in two countries where rabies is not an issue, (England and now Australia) I have not had to factor it into the vaccination equation, I guess I am fortunate there. I still think with regard to other diseases in companion animals and in humans, the whole vaccination controversy is a hot subject and very worrying, and emotions can run high.I lost a cat to a very aggressive cancer that began around a vaccination site so I am biased. My comments are not meant to slag anyone off, only to point to sources of info and points for consideration. Thanks everyone

I lost my Kitt to vaccine induced osteosarcoma, so I completely understand where you're coming from. In fact, the only thing I do vaccinate my cats for is rabies.

I was a zoo vet tech for ten years, and the one thing that was sure to make the hair on our vets heads stand up was anything to do with rabies. There was no joking or leeway on this matter. I guess that attitude towards rabies and vaccinating for it has kind of rubbed off on me, which makes sense. If you get rabies, you die. No exceptions, no cure. So it pays to be over cautious.

[TopCat3]

My vet for 21 years, who has given me lots of free advice and a discount because he knows I rescue, has switched to an annual vaccine that they consider safer and far less likely to cause an adverse reaction. Having spoken to both the vets and the techs about the new vaccine, I do believe they are using it because they feel it is better for the animal. If your cat received the annual vaccine, I would feel far less concerned than if she was given the 3-year type. If it was the 3-year type, I'd follow up.

Did your vet explain what it was about the annual vaccine that made it safer than the three year vaccine, please Lizzie?
Does it contain thimerosal or not? and if it does is the amount it contains at least somewhat less than 1/3 of that contained in the 3-year vaccine? And is the amount per jab 1/3 of the price of the 3-year vaccine? I would hope so on the first count, or for me it wouldn't be a safer option, and being cynical (see above) if it didn't meet my criteria on the second count, I'd be mighty suspicious, but maybe that's just me.
I would trust a vet I had used for 21 years to speak their own personal truth to me as well, and they would probably trust a manufacturer to tell them their truth. I have just found that personal truths can sometimes differ from the facts.