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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / August 2005How often should cats get a vet check?
The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an annual event, but they had their last vet visit in January. Is the vet just trying to get extra money out of us? We really can't afford it right now!  Signature~Karen aka Kajikit Crafts, cats, and chocolate - the three essentials of life http://www.kajikitscorner.com Online photo album - http://community.webshots.com/user/kajikit > The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and > booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an > annual event, but they had their last vet visit in January. Is the > vet just trying to get extra money out of us? We really can't afford > it right now! Annual exams are the norm. In theory, senior cats should be seen twice a year so you can catch stuff early on and treat quickly. However, if your cats are healthy and everything is normal, I think annual exams are ok. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and >> booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >year so you can catch stuff early on and treat quickly. However, if your >cats are healthy and everything is normal, I think annual exams are ok. Hmmm... the girls are only just over a year old so they're young and healthy. The notice said they are due for: 'Wellness physical exam' 'Feline Combo Vaccination' 'Intestinal parasite exam' Wellness diagnostic testing and a dental exam. Sounds like a racket to me, since they're indoor-only cats and they're so young! The only valid thing on the list for them sounds like the vaccination... we'll take them in when we can afford it, but goodness only knows when that'll be! Signature~Karen aka Kajikit Crafts, cats, and chocolate - the three essentials of life http://www.kajikitscorner.com Online photo album - http://community.webshots.com/user/kajikit >>> The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and >>> booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > vaccination... we'll take them in when we can afford it, but goodness > only knows when that'll be! This sounds a bit much to me, although your vet may be breaking a routine exam into specific items (which looks suspiciously like a way to increase fees). I usually take "samples" with me for a fecal exam. That only involves checking for parasites under the microscope and doesn't add anything to the cost at my vet's office. They should get an annual physical exam, but "diagnostic testing" sounds like overkill for such young cats. If "dental exam" just means looking at their gums and teeth, that is also included in my vet's standard physical exam. I would want to know exactly what is in that "feline combo vaccination" and ask some serious questions about whether your vet is following the standard protocol or if he/she is vaccinating too often. I think it would be a good idea to call and ask for the total cost for these procedures, then compare with other vets in the area (but also ask friends for recommendations because the cheapest vet may not give the best care). MaryL My cats -- Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e > Sounds like a racket to me, since they're indoor-only cats and they're > so young! The only valid thing on the list for them sounds like the Sounds like they want to charge for each item, which is not good. > vaccination... we'll take them in when we can afford it, but goodness > only knows when that'll be! I would bring a copy of the AAFP vaccination guidelines (just the pages where the table is) so see if they are following it. If they are, then as indoor-only cats they only need the combo vaccine (find out what's in it), which works for 3 years and the rabies vaccine (available for both 1 yr and 3 years). Also, indoor-only cats probably do not need a fecal test unless you have reason to believe they have parasites. A "dental exam" (basically, look at their teeth and gums) is part of any regular vet visit, not sure what they mean by "wellness diagnostic testing". Here in Austin, our vet charges are as follows: Wellness exam with vaccination - $38 FVR-CP* vaccine, 3 yrs - $6 Rabies vaccine, 1 yr - $11.50 Cheers. Victor * protects against the following: viral rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, chlamydia, and panleukopenia (feline distemper) SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com > The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and > booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an > annual event, but they had their last vet visit in January. Is the > vet just trying to get extra money out of us? We really can't afford > it right now! Presuming they had their booster shots at their last visit, then I would say one visit a year is fine unless they have pre existing health problems that need to be monitored or sudden changes in behaviour/health/activity level. --Fil > The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and > booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an > annual event, but they had their last vet visit in January. Is the > vet just trying to get extra money out of us? We really can't afford > it right now! Vets take classes on how to maximize their income just like dentists and chiropractors do. Our sends out cards when the cats are due for shots but that is all. I wouldn't take a healthy young cat in more than once a year. And I've found the older ones manage to come up with a reason to go in at least once a year anyway. Jo > The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and > booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an > annual event, but they had their last vet visit in January. Is the > vet just trying to get extra money out of us? We really can't afford > it right now! Young cats need kitten booster shots. Other than that, my cats get annual exams. Every third year (when they get rabies vaccinations), they will get a second visit because I don't want them to have more than one immunization at the same visit. MaryL > The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and > booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an > annual event, but they had their last vet visit in January. Is the > vet just trying to get extra money out of us? We really can't afford > it right now! My three get an annual general check-up each at the same time as they get the annual booster jabs. Other than that, I keep them regularly Frontlined & Drontaled, so unless there's some sort of medical emergency, they don't need any more than that. Cheers, helen s > "Karen AKA Kajikit" <kajikit@gmail.com> wrote in message > > My three get an annual general check-up each at the same time as they > get the annual booster jabs. <snip> Just for everyone's information, the American Association of Feline Practioners (http://www.aafponline.org/) recommend vaccinations every THREE years, after about age 2. There are plenty of studies that show that the immunity lasts at least three years. They are concerned about minimizng the chances of vaccination-site sarcomas. Of course, an annual check-up is still recommended, to catch any developing problems. The vaccination recommendations, and others, can be found at http://www.aafponline.org/resources/practice_guidelines.htm Since I've got a lot of experience with cats, I usually skip the annual visit and just take the cats in every 2 to 3 years for vaccinations. Of course, they often see the vet at least once in that time frame, because of some concern. And as they get older, we try to get them in annually for check-ups. I'm not sure why the vets still promote yearly vaccinations. But I've read enough to be comfortable limiting the combo vaccination (panleukopenia, upper respitory, etc.) to every three years. Of course, our cats also only get outside into the enclosure, and thus have limited exposure to other cats. Anyway, read the guidelines and information, and make your own judgement. Kalynnda and the furry seven >> "Karen AKA Kajikit" <kajikit@gmail.com> wrote in message My three get an >> annual general check-up each at the same time as they get the annual [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > minimizng the chances of vaccination-site sarcomas. Of course, an annual > check-up is still recommended, to catch any developing problems. Not a lot of use in the UK where yearly vaccinations are still recommended and indeed, should you ever require to board your animal at any sort of reputable boarding establishment you need to provide proof of up-to-date annual vaccinations. Cheers, helen s > Just for everyone's information, the American Association of Feline > Practioners (http://www.aafponline.org/) recommend vaccinations every > THREE years, after about age 2. There are plenty of studies that show You must note that not all vaccines are designed to last 3 years. And not all cats need all vaccines. Ours only get the combo every 3 years and the rabies every year, since it is required by law. Our vet uses a rabies vaccine that has an effectiveness of 1 year, since they are supposed to vaccinate yearly anyway. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> Just for everyone's information, the American Association of Feline >> Practioners (http://www.aafponline.org/) recommend vaccinations every [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > vaccine that has an effectiveness of 1 year, since they are supposed to > vaccinate yearly anyway. Victor, don't you live in Texas? If so, state law changed a few years ago, and Texas now accepts a 3-year protocol for rabies. Of course, you might have a local ordinance that reverts to the old 1-year standard (especially if there are cases of rabies in your area). MaryL > Victor, don't you live in Texas? If so, state law changed a few years ago, > and Texas now accepts a 3-year protocol for rabies. Of course, you might > have a local ordinance that reverts to the old 1-year standard (especially > if there are cases of rabies in your area). I did not know that, I'll have to ask my vet about that. Thanks for the pointer. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> ...state law changed a few years ago, and Texas now accepts a 3-year >> protocol for rabies. Of course, you might have a local ordinance that [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > pointer. > Victor M. Martinez When I took Rosie in on Friday, the vet didn't say anything about a 3-year rabies shot. I would have expected him to say something because getting the vaccinations was the reason I took her in. It's possible that we are in the 1-year area, but I'm surprised I didn't hear about a change in the state law. I, too, will be sure to ask the vet about it. Annie >>> ...state law changed a few years ago, and Texas now accepts a 3-year >>> protocol for rabies. Of course, you might have a local ordinance that [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Annie Here is a reference to Texas changing from 1-year to 3-year rabies vaccination requirement. It also notes that local jurisdictions can require more frequent vaccination. My vet told me about the change in law 2 years ago, and I immediately changed to the 3-year vaccine. http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis/REGS/rabiesvacc/askedquestions.asp According to this article, the law changed in February 2003: http://www.gsdcofaustin.org/rabies.html However, I just came across this article, and the information given greatly disturbs me (the reference states that only adjuvanted vaccine is currently licensed for 3 years, and this author states that the adjuvanted vaccines are associated with fibrosarcomas. He does say that 3-year licensensing is pending. I am definitely going to ask my vet about this. I had already had long conversations with him about site fibrosarcomas, but I had not seen anything about different rates for the 1-year and 3-year vaccines; and he did not mention a difference. http://www.critterfixer.com/pages/locations.asp Do we have anyone on this newsgroup with specific knowledge who could add to this information? If so, please speak up! MaryL > >>> ...state law changed a few years ago, and Texas now accepts a 3-year > >>> protocol for rabies. Of course, you might have a local ordinance that [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > MaryL I'm in Houston. My vet told me that the 3-year vaccine was available, but advised that we stick to the 1-year because of the incidence of fibrosarcomas with the 3-year vaccine. Hugs, CatNipped >> >>> ...state law changed a few years ago, and Texas now accepts a 3-year >> >>> protocol for rabies. Of course, you might have a local ordinance [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > CatNipped I am very concerned about this. Fortunately, each cat has had only one injection of the 3-year vaccines (two years ago), but I need to learn more about this before it is time for revaccination next year. MaryL > >> >>> ...state law changed a few years ago, and Texas now accepts a 3-year > >> >>> protocol for rabies. Of course, you might have a local ordinance [quoted text clipped - 64 lines] > > MaryL I don't know what the stats are, but I wouldn't worry overly much about past injections. There are probably thousands and thousands of cats who have had the vaccine and did not get cancer for every one that did. Hugs, CatNipped >> >> >>> ...state law changed a few years ago, and Texas now accepts a > 3-year [quoted text clipped - 83 lines] > > CatNipped This site lists 1 in 10,000. I'm not concerned so much about the injection my cats received 2 years ago as I am about whether I should return to 1-year vaccine (Purevac) next year. http://www.critterfixer.com/pages/v6_current_feline_recommendations.htm MaryL > However, I just came across this article, and the information given greatly > disturbs me (the reference states that only adjuvanted vaccine is currently > licensed for 3 years, and this author states that the adjuvanted vaccines > are associated with fibrosarcomas. He does say that 3-year licensensing is Right. That's probably why my vet doesn't even talk about it then. We don't do adjuvants. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> However, I just came across this article, and the information given >> greatly disturbs me (the reference states that only adjuvanted vaccine is [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Right. That's probably why my vet doesn't even talk about it then. We > don't do adjuvants. Holly has had a couple of visits to the vet this week because of a food injury (described in another post). I raised some questions about vaccination as a direct result of what I learned through this thread. We had a long discussion, and the gist of it is that he agrees that rabies vaccination could be extended for longer periods of time for *indoors-only cats* that *do not come into contact with other animals* (which describes my twosome). He felt that was especially true because mine have had several years of vaccinations. However, he strongly recommends that distemper vaccinations be continued because that is an airborne disease. MaryL > The vet just sent us a reminder that the girls need their physical and > booster shots and a 'lifetime wellness exam'... I thought that was an > annual event, but they had their last vet visit in January. Is the > vet just trying to get extra money out of us? We really can't afford > it right now! I'd say the minimum is annual. HRFL Tiger goes in every 6 months for an ultrasound and bloodpressure test, but that's because he has health problems. My guys also have their shots spread over the year, in that Cleo and Pandora are Feb, and Tiger is July, so I just load everyone up and they all go in together so they can be weighed and checked. It means that on average, Tiger is theer every 3 months. But I'm an overanxious mom. ;o) The vets around here recommend annually. Helen M |
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