Is it safe to give my kitten a distemper vaccine and spayed at the same time?
I gave her a rabies vaccine two months ago. Should i even get her the distemper vaccine at all? Is it safe for cats. I understand spaying a cat can have significant permanent personality changes by its self. I also heard the distemper vaccine can cause significant permanent personality changes even when a spaying in not done at the same time. Is this true? They also suggest using Pfizer Revolution also during this process. It that safe to do all at the same time? Is Pfizer Revolution safe for cats?
cm303242010-10-20T06:10:18Z
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I would wait, no need to tax her system extra. Giving vacicnes on same day as spay is not usaly a good idea. I would spay first and only if needed vaccinate 3 weeks later. Revolution has a lot of stufff in it, deem if all of it is neccasary for your Cat. if not then ask for another reccomendation.
Feline Panleukopenia Virus Vaccine: Feline panleukopenia (also called feline distemper) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease of kittens. This disease is rare. Feline panleukopenia virus is extremely hardy, is able to survive extremes of temperature and humidity for many months, and is resistant to most available disinfectants. Similar to canine parvovirus, it causes bloody, watery diarrhea and is rapidly fatal. Although an effective treatment protocol is available, it is expensive to treat. Because of the serious nature of the disease and the continued presence of virus in the environment, vaccination is highly recommended for all kittens. Cats vaccinated at 6 months of age or older with will produce an immunity good for life.(15, 20, 21) Adult cats do not need this vaccine. We recommend MLV non- adjuvanted vaccine. Dr. Pedersen's Duration of Immunity Studies demonstrated immunity by serology & challenge for 7 1/2 years after immunization.(24) This study was reproduced by Dr Michael Lappin. Longer Duration of Immunity studies are pending. Most immunologists feel the protection is lifelong. Vaccine Associated Sarcomas (VAS) or Injection Site Fibrosarcomas - are a type of cancer caused by vaccines. Vaccines containing adjuvant, a component to stimulate the immune system, are at least 5 times more likely to cause a VAS. VAS is 100% fatal if the tumor is between the shoulder blades. With surgical removal, radiation therapy and chemotherapy survival time is less than 3 years. If the tumor is in the distal part of the rear leg, amputation, plus radiation, & chemo may be curative in 20% of cases.
Non - Adjuvanted vaccines are available for cats for all preventable diseases including Rabies, Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calici virus and Feline Leukemia, and are considered safer.
Intranasal Vaccines are safer. The AVMA VAS Task Force recommends, to reduce the risk of VAS: #1. reduced vaccination schedules, #2. vaccination in the distal hind limb, and #3 intranasal and non-adjuvanted vaccines Vaccines with adjuvant, an ingredient included to stimulate the immune system, have been implicated as a higher risk, although other injectable drugs have been incriminated as well. Adjuvanted vaccines have been demonstrated to induce mutation in cell cultures. Adjuvanted Rabies, Distemper and Feline Leukemia vaccines have been classified as Class II carcinogens by the World Health Organization.
While it's not ideal to give vaccines at the time of spay, in your case it would be best. The distemper vaccine is perfectly safe - and does NOT have any impact on her personality any more than a flu shot would change yours. For some reason people think the vaccine is 'dis-temper' and changes their temperament. It protects against the feline respiratory ailments, one of which is panleukopenia, often called distemper. Spaying also will not change her personality, and will indeed prevent behavioral issues like urine marking when in heat. The Revolution is a great flea treatment, also very safe.
Your cat will need to go back in for a second booster for the distemper vaccine. And given your history of not keeping her up to date on vaccines (or you would have gotten one for her when she got the rabies one) you are best served by getting it for her when she's getting spayed.
I would not get both at once, why put extra stress on her system of a 3-way vaccine and anaesthesia / surgery?
The personality changes with spaying are mostly welcome ones -- Queens tend to be more territorial than spayed females, often don't tolerate other cats as well, and a cat going in heat maybe every few weeks, yowling like she is in agony, acting stressed and frustrated, peeing on your stuff, trying to escape to go mate, is not so easy to live with.
And i never even heard the one about the distemper vaccine causing a personality change! I don't think that's true. How is it supposed to change them? It sure as heck does not slow them down! (except for a day )
And believe me you do not want her to get sick as she might without the vaccine (it actually is for 3 things) Even if she stays indoors and never comes in contact with other cats you could track it in on your clothes or shoes. It is best to have it as a kitten and then get the booster a year later (the reason for that is that by then their immune system is more developed and will respond better so its more sure to have the most protection). But after that she may be set for life. If you want to know in the future if she needs another one you can get a "titer" test done to find out.
in many situations for extra or less 24 hours after vaccines, cats would be sore and stiff. Mine in many situations do no longer do quite a few something for the 1st day. he's probably advantageous. If he's no longer extra suitable in an afternoon or 2 i could call the vet, yet i think of its extraordinarily widely used for cats to be somewhat torpid after vaccines.
You must consult your vet with regards to Vaccinations. Cats can contract Feline Distempter, Cat flu, Feline Leukemia, Feline AIDS and I'm sure there are lots of other cat diseases that I do not know.
Having your cat spayed reduced the risk of female cancer in cats and she will no longer have the mating urge and there will be no unwanted kittens.