Cat Vaccines

Vaccinations have become so potentially litigious and complex that the latest guidelines for feline vaccinations (AVMA Journal Nov 2006) is 35 pages long, has 213 references, and 6 appendices.

Some feel that vaccines have become problematic because veterinarians do not want to give up the income and opportunity for annual visits despite knowing that vaccines can cause harm. What we know is that core vaccines provide lifetime immunity in dogs and cats. Thus, core vaccines are not likely to need to be repeated in adult pets. This information was confirmed by the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Wisconsin under the Chairman of Pathobiology, Dr. Ronald Schultz. Cats not exposed to feline leukemia before 16 weeks of age rarely, if ever, get leukemia except when their immune systems are not working—in which case they are likely to die of something very soon anyway. Thus, the majority of cats over 16 weeks don’t benefit from leukemia vaccine. In addition, feline leukemia vaccine has caused cancer in some cats, so the wisdom of using it routinely is questionable.

In addition to causing cancer, we know that multiple vaccines in one injection are more likely to cause harm than giving a single vaccine at a time. We also know that too many vaccines increase the likelihood of autoimmune diseases: hyperthyroidism in dogs, hypothyroidism in cats, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, etc.

With vaccines acknowledged as capable of causing health problems, one wonders why the agency officially designated to receive reports of vaccine reactions was closed several years ago. Veterinarians currently acknowledge that accurate reports of vaccine reactions are not being kept.

Scared of vaccinating your pets inappropriately? Rightly so. Vaccines, like most medications and treatments in the veterinary world, have the ability to do good and to do harm. To elicit the good and avoid the potential harm from vaccines, work with a holistic veterinarian to select only those vaccines that should be used for your pets. Do not let a pushy receptionist or anyone more highly motivated by clinic income than by long-term health of your pet over recommend vaccines.

If you choose not to vaccinate, boost your pet’s natural immunity by feeding properly. Supplement with antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids.

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