Posts Tagged ‘ cat ’

Vaccine-Associated Auto-Immune And Other Diseases by Dr. Michael W. Fox

October 22, 2012

Animal Vaccination Concerns:
Vaccine-Associated Auto-Immune And Other Diseases 

by Michael W. Fox BVetMed, PhD, DSc, MRCVS*** 

By way of introduction to this critical review, I wish to make it clear at the onset that I am not opposed to the judicious use of vaccines. My approval is conditioned on the proviso that the deployed vaccines have high levels of proven safety and effectiveness for each species upon which they are used, and requires that they become part of an integrated, holistic health care and disease prevention program. When used as a sole therapy, vaccines do not constitute an effective preventive medicine regime. The myth of infectious and contagious diseases having a single cause—the infective organism—is at long last being abandoned as other co-factors are now being more widely recognized, extending the narrow view that developing a specific vaccine is all one requires to reduce the morbidity and mortality of a given disease.

As a veterinarian I am concerned about the consequences of the widespread dissemination of modified live virus (MLV) and genetically engineered (GE) virus strains through the mass vaccinations of humans, livestock and poultry, and in-house companion animals. Read more »

Photographs of Feline Injection-Site Sarcoma (VAS) Surgery

September 28, 2012

Ms. Kitty after surgery

Note: this post contains graphic photos of the removal of a large injection-site tumor (a vaccine-associated sarcoma) from a stray cat, Ms. Kitty.

Jill Kirsh of Cripple Creek Ferals and Friends writes: I operate a cat rescue focusing on TNR (trap, neuter, return) and special needs animals.  I received a call about a stray cat “missing an eye with a lump on her side.” Her lump turned out to be a VAS: vaccine-associated sarcoma, also call FISS, feline injection-site sarcoma. 

I was not even able to cup my hand around the tumor; it had erupted.   She was immediately taken to the local vet and was told there was nothing that could be done, that surgery was not recommended.  I opted for a second opinion with my former vet who now practices an hour away.   He promptly declared the lump needed to come off if we wanted to try to save her.  Surgery was scheduled for the following day.  

As you can see from the photos, the incision was quite extensive.  The incision began to open up between her shoulders and several visits to the local vet as well as the emergency clinic resulted in a “nothing can be done” response. 

Another hour long trip to the surgeon and Ms. Kitty was stitched back up and is doing as well as can be expected.  She has had urinary issues as far as urinating a lot with blood in it.  Two urinalysis finally showed an infection.  The surgeon believes a stone caused the bleeding and surgery is not an option.  Her urine seems to be clearing up somewhat.  All of her bloodwork came back normal, thyroid levels normal and no diabetes. 

Ms. Kitty has proven what a little survivor she is!  I know a lot of people felt she should have been euthanized but she has been worth every minute of worry and frustration!  I hope Ms. Kitty finally understands the love, warmth and compassion her humans feel for her. 

Update 9/26/12: She went to the vet today and is now on different antibiotics to hopefully help with the blood in the urine and also to help the incision heal.  The vet fears that if there is no improvement in a couple days the tumor may be coming back already.  I sincerely hope that is not the case; she has come so far! 

Another update: She went to the vet yesterday (different one) and is on different antibiotics, pain meds and cosequin to help with the inflammation of the UTI.  She peed clear today!  The incision is not doing well and the vet is worried if she does not respond to the new drugs that the tumor may be returning already. I certainly hope she is wrong! 

9/28/12: Finally!!  Some good news to report on Ms. Kitty!  (I hope I am not jinxing it!)  She is peeing normal amounts of clear urine in the box!  Her incision is looking much better but when she moves it “squeaks” or sounds like a fart.  Making a call to the vet to make sure that is ok?  She still has some drainage (clear) from it but nowhere near as much as before.  Her appetite is great and much more active.  You can tell she feels better!  Hope it continues!

See more photos on Jill Kirsh’s Facebook page. Surgery photos:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.496967936997425.123843.100000526683577&type=1&l=6695bbc9f5  Photos when I first got her:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.495164653844420.123265.100000526683577&type=1&l=9291de0887

 

Tumor being removed from Ms. Kitty

 

Feline Injection-Site Sarcoma: The Battles of Kitty Kat

August 2, 2012

Kitty Kat

Time from diagnosis to death….four months. Cost of treatment……$6,800.

 
Angel Kitty Kat Gonzalez was a beautiful and sweet long haired Tortoiseshell cat. I had never owned a cat before Kitty Kat showed up on my doorstep in the fall of 2003. When I took my pets (I have a dachshund too) to the veterinarian for wellness or illness visits I never questioned their care or treatment. I was naive in believing that my veterinarian was up to date on the latest and best medical care. I believed they loved my fur babies as much as I did.

Read more »

Vaccinate or Test Titers? by Margo Roman, DVM

August 2, 2012

Dr. Margo Roman and her dogs

The antibody titer is used to determine your pet’s need for a booster immunization and whether a recent vaccine caused a strong enough response from your pet’s immune system to protect them against the specific disease.

Since 1996 we have been doing antibody titers instead of the traditional vaccine protocol of yearly boosters for Distemper and Parvo, and Panleukopenia for the cats. Read more »

Does My Cat Really Need Another Vaccine? by Shawn Messionier, DVM

July 29, 2012

Dr. Shawn Messonier

When you get the annual reminder from your veterinarian this year telling you that it’s time for your cat’s booster vaccinations, ask yourself the following question: does my cat really need another set of vaccinations? While it’s important to have ongoing preventive health care for your cat, annual vaccinations may not necessarily be part of their preventive care. In this article I’ll share with you a more natural option to the standard recommendation of annual vaccines. 

Read more »

Vaccine Reactions: Underreported and Unrecognized, Not Unimportant

July 16, 2012

Dr. James R. Shannon, former Director of the US National Institute of Health, has been widely quoted as saying: “The only safe vaccine is one that is never used.” 

But are adverse vaccine reactions really a big deal? Aren’t they just the “fever and fatigue” we’re warned about after yearly shots? Or is there more to learn?

And aren’t moderate and severe adverse reactions rare? Let’s answer this question first.

Reactions are considered rare, in part, because reporting is rare. Unlike reporting for human vaccine reactions, required by the National Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, reporting is voluntary for reactions experienced by animals. Furthermore, there is no federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for animals as there is for humans, nor is there a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). That does not mean that adverse events aren’t a serious a problem for animals. In fact, because animals are given numerous vaccines repeatedly (and unnecessarily) throughout their lives, rather than just in childhood, the problem is likely worse.

WSAVA Vaccination Group Guidelines (p. 18) recognizes that there is “gross under-reporting of vaccine-associated adverse events which impedes knowledge of the ongoing safety of these products.”  AAHA (p. 19) says, “Although AE [adverse event] documentation in veterinary medicine is limited, severe adverse reactions are considered uncommon.” But if reporting is rare, how do they know?

Perhaps the biggest problem in underreporting is the failure to match an illness or problem to a vaccine. Read more »

7 Quick Things Most People Don’t Know About Vaccinating Pets

June 10, 2012

1. The only vaccine required by U.S. law is rabies.  16 states, and some localities, currently offer medical exemptions for animals with serious health problems and more exemptions are likely coming since the AVMA now approves. Not all states require cats and ferrets to be vaccinated, but all states require vaccination of dogs. Click here to see your state rabies laws. Note: laws change with little fanfare and not all veterinarians know current regulations. In addition, although all 3-year vaccine drug makers guarantee 3-year immunity, and despite the increased health risk from unnecessary vaccination, some localities continue to require more frequent “boosters.” Check with your local Animal Control for details. Find a list of states working on exemptions.

2. There is little or no research showing that annual revaccination for core vaccines boosts immunity. Studies show that the important “core” vaccines Read more »

Do we need to vaccinate older cats and dogs?

June 8, 2012

Abstract [Highlighting ours]

Vaccination can provide an immune response that is similar in duration to that following a natural infection. In general, adaptive immunity to viruses develops earliest and is highly effective. Such anti-viral immune responses often result in the development of sterile immunity and the duration of immunity (DOI) is often lifelong. In contrast, adaptive immunity to bacteria, fungi or parasites develops more slowly and the DOI is generally short compared with most systemic viral infections. Sterile immunity to these infectious agents is less commonly engendered. Old dogs and cats rarely die from vaccine-preventable infectious disease, especially when they have been vaccinated and immunized as young adults (i.e. between 16 weeks and 1 year of age). Read more »

Duration of immunity for canine and feline vaccines: A review by Ronald D. Schultz, Ph.D.

May 25, 2012

Abstract

In our studies aimed at assessing the minimum duration of vaccinal immunity (DOI), approximately 1000 dogs have been vaccinated with products from all the major US veterinary biological companies. The DOI for the various products is determined by antibody titers for all dogs and, by challenge studies in selected groups of dogs. Recently, all major companies that make canine vaccines for the U.S. market have completed their own studies; published data show a 3 years or longer minimum DOI for the canine core products, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), and canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2).

Studies with feline core vaccines – feline parvovirus (FPV), calicivirus (FCV) and herpes virus type I (FHV-1) have shown a minimum DOI of greater than 3 years. Based on these results, the current canine and feline guidelines (which  recommend that the last dose of core vaccines be given to puppies and kittens 12 weeks of age or older, then revaccination again at 1 year, then not more often than every 3 years) should provide a level of protection equal to that achieved by annual revaccination.

In contrast, the non-core canine and feline vaccines, perhaps with the exception of feline leukaemia vaccines, provide immunity for 1 year. In general the effectiveness of the non-core products is less than the core products. Thus, when required, non-core vaccines should be administered yearly, or even more frequently.

# 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V # 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.
R.D. Schultz / Veterinary Microbiology 117 (2006):75–79. The complete article is available at www.sciencedirect.com

Don’t Vaccinate Your Adult Cat for Distemper! by Jean Hofve, DVM

May 25, 2012
By Jean Hofve, DVM

Seriously? Yes! Evidence is mounting that the common FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and paneleukopenia) vaccine may cause long-term damage to cats’ kidneys that increases with every booster. Here’s the report from Colorado State University:

The Center for Companion Animal Studies at Colorado State University has shown that cats vaccinated with FVRCP vaccines grown on Crandell-Rees Feline Kidney (CRFK) cell lines can develop antibodies to renal proteins, and that cats hypersensitized to CRFK cell lysates can develop interstitial nephritis…Cats administered FVRCP vaccines parenterally (by injection) have higher levels of circulating antibodies to these antigens than do cats who were administered a FVRCP vaccine for intranasal administration.

Read more »

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