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Question:
I'm confused! My vet now
tells me my cats only need their annual vaccinations every other
year, not annually. I called three other animal hospitals and each
one told me something different... and I just can't keep it all straight.
What is your opinion regarding how often cats
need their "annual" vaccinations and why are there so many
different views on this?
I just want to be sure my cats are protected. |
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Answer: annual vaccinations
cats... how often to vaccinate
Sometimes
we veterinarians are confused, too, because there is a continuous flow of
new and improved vaccines, new time frames for testing how long the
vaccine instill immunity, and the ever-present uniqueness of each
patient. No one can look at a cat and say with total assurance the
cats is or is not protected against any disease! Therefore, as with
humans, the topic of vaccine use is saturated with words such as probably,
usually, occasionally, etc.
Vaccine manufacturers must conform to specific
FDA guidelines for manufacture, labeling, safety and efficacy.
Nevertheless, for various genetic, environmental, and biochemical reasons
no vaccine yet created will induce protective immunity in every patient
inoculated.
Each veterinarian studies the new literature
about cat vaccines, talks to manufacturer's reps, consults with
organizations that specifically focus on feline medicine and talks
with other veterinarians in the local area regarding what feline diseases
are prevalent in that area and which vaccines seem to be working the best.
If you trust your veterinarian in other aspects
of your cats' care, you probably will be correct in trusting him/her
regarding what vaccines should be administered and how often they should
be given. Some should be done annually, some may be safe (meaning
they induced a protective level of immunity in your cat) to use less often
than annually.
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Am. Vet. Med. Assn. (
