At Kingstowne Cat Clinic we are dedicated to providing the best health care and maintenance through all phases of your cat’s life. Through risk factor management, we strive to increase the life expectancy of our feline patients. This wellness program should be started as a kitten and continued through the cat’s golden years. The promotion of quality pet health care through a wellness program can add years of vitality and extend your cat’s life. The gradual onset of health problems in an apparently healthy cat often goes unnoticed. Through a thorough annual physical examination, problems can be caught in their earliest stages when chances are the greatest that they can be completely reversed or controlled.
FELINE VACCINATION GUIDELINES
Prepared by the Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines of the American
Association of Feline Practitioners
and the Academy of Feline Medicine
Below is a summary of the guidelines published in December 1997. The doctors and staff of Kingstowne Cat Clinic are confident following these guidelines. This revision of previous guidelines was necessary to account for new knowledge and products and will be updated as additional advances indicate. Each veterinarian and veterinary hospital may choose whether to follow these guidelines or not.
1. Adult cats receive a FVRCP (Feline Panleukopenia (Distemper) /Feline Herpesvirus (Viral Rhinotracheitis)/ Feline Calicivirus) booster vaccine 1 year after the initial kitten series. It is boostered every three years thereafter.
Cats are at greater risk of exposure to feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus if they are periodically housed in boarding, breeding or shelter facilities. These cats may benefit from booster vaccination against these two viruses administered prior to exposure at intervals more frequent than every three years. Antibody titres may be of value.
This is considered a CORE vaccine. Vaccines designated as CORE are recommended for administration to all cats based on the criteria that: 1) the consequences of infection are particularly severe (e.g., feline panleukopenia), 2) the infection in cats poses significant zoonotic potential (e.g., rabies), 3) the disease is prevalent and easily transmitted so that it poses a significant risk to the population of cats at large (e.g., feline herpesvirus and calicivirus), and 4) the vaccine is safe and effective.
2. A 1 year Rabies vaccination is to be given to kittens at 12-16 weeks of age and boostered 1 year later with a 3 year vaccine. This is considered a CORE vaccine. Please note: at the present time, not all states will honor a 3 year vaccine. If you relocate to another state, please check on its Rabies requirements.
Kingstowne Cat Clinic Update: As of April 1999, we now recommend the PureVax rabies vaccine which is given yearly. PureVax uses the latest technology to provide your cat with pure, safe and effective rabies protection. It virtually eliminates the chronic injection site inflammation that can be associated with rabies vaccination.
3. Adult cats with unknown vaccine histories should be given a 1 year Rabies vaccine.
4. Feline leukemia vaccines should only be given to cats at risk of coming in contact with a feline leukemia positive cat. Initially, 2 vaccines are given at a 3-4 week interval and boostered annually thereafter. This is considered a NON-CORE vaccine.
The decision to vaccinate a cat with a vaccine that is NON-CORE (e.g., feline leukemia, Chlamydia, feline infectious peritonitis(FIP), and Microsporum canis(ringworm)) should be based on the realistic evaluation of all risk factors, as well as vaccine efficiency and safety.
5. A comprehensive physical examination of each patient at least yearly is important to reassess its health and address possible lifestyle changes that could affect vaccine recommendations for that year. It is important to remember that vaccination does not assure immunization. A small percentage of cats will not be protected by these health maintenance procedures.
Fecal exam - A stool sample should be examined once a year. The owner should observe the stools for evidence of tapeworm segments or any change in consistency or frequency.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Test - All new cats in a household should be tested for FeLV (and FIV) before introducing them to existing cats. We also recommend testing prior to starting the initial FeLV vaccine series.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or Feline AIDS) Test - This is done in combination with FeLV testing. At the present time, there is no vaccine to prevent this disease. We recommend that all cats that are allowed outside, especially those having a history of fighting, be tested on an annual basis.
Baseline blood values - It is now recommended that blood testing be performed between 2 to 7 years of age. The results of these tests are used to establish individual baseline data which will facilitate faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatments in the future.
HEARTGARD for Cats - Approximately 15% of cats tested for antibodies to heartworms in Virginia are positive. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, and indoor cats are equally susceptible. Adult worms in the heart or pulmonary arteries can cause acute death. A more common complication of infection in the cat is inflammatory lung disease caused by the migration of the worm larvae through the lung tissue. There is evidence that this inflammation does not resolve with the elimination of the infection. This may predispose the cat to bronchial asthma. Heartgard is a once a month chewable medication to prevent heartworm infection. This is recommended for all cats.
Program - This is a once a month tablet or liquid that prevents the female flea from laying viable eggs. Therefore, a flea infestation is prevented but adult fleas may still be present. The adult flea lives about 7-14 days.
Frontline Topspot - This is a once a month topical application to kill fleas and ticks.
Neutering - If your cat is not being used for breeding purposes, the cat should be neutered. This not only eliminates unwanted litters, it also decreases the chances of developing reproductive diseases and behavioral problems in the future.
Nutrition - Proper diet plays an important role in your cat’s health. Many commercial foods supply excess nutrients that may lead to future health problems. Obesity is the second only to dental disease as the most commonly diagnosed disease in the adult. Most adult cats will maintain a more ideal weight if fed a lower calorie food such as Select Balance Less Active or Select Care Weight formulas. Lower calorie foods are available for weight loss.
Oral Hygiene - Dental disease is the most common treatable and controllable disease diagnosed in adult cats. 70-80% show signs of dental disease by 3 years of age. The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body; therefore, a healthy mouth is essential to the well-being and extended life spans of our feline companions. Most cats will need professional cleaning and polishing on a regular basis. Daily brushing is ideal but often unrealistic. CET Dental Chews and Prescription Diet t/d will help decrease plaque and tartar accumulation. Please ask a member of our staff about teeth cleaning and the available dental products.
Grooming - This is an important part of health maintenance. Proper grooming includes removing excess hair to decrease hairballs, removing matted hair to improve hygiene and comfort, and inspection for skin disease, tumors, and external parasites.
Kingstowne Cat Clinic.
Copyright © 1999 by [Kingstowne Cat Clinic]. All rights reserved.
