Maggie and the Vet

[Maggieandme]

Hi It has been a little more than a year since Maggie came to us. She had her surgery and shots last September, a follow-up appointment in October and a booster shot.
She has been well and seems to be the picture of health, which was not the case when she arrived. Thanks to Sugarcatmom and the advice of many others.
As I make this appointment for what I think should be a yearly check-up I wonder if there is anything specific I should ask the Vet about.
Thanks, Laurie and Maggie (who is not going to like this one bit)

[krdahmer]

Great to hear Maggie is doing well! I can't think of anything specific as they should check teeth and palpate and check skin/eyes/fur etc at the check up anyhow. And she's young(?) so I imagine blood panels etc aren't necessary unless she is acting strange or showing signs of sickness. for a good visit! (Do you have any pics?)

[sugarcatmom]

Fabulous to hear that Maggie is doing great! Good for you for all the awesome care that you're providing her.

As for the vet visit, the only thing I'd suggest is NOT vaccinating her. Not sure if that's the purpose of the appointment or what your vet's take is on the subject, but the latest vax protocols are for only every 3 years (if that). Here are a couple links on the subject:
http://www.vas-awareness.org/vaxreccs.htm
http://www.vas-awareness.org/InTheNews.htm
http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/v...uidelines.html

[Maggieandme]

Hey Sugarcatmom
Those are very interesting articles. Ed spoke to the clinic about the appointment, shots and de-worming bring $120.00 I will call and ask if these shots are really necessary. We do spend alot of time outside and she has been known to kill but not eat a few little birds and once a mouse.
Not unlike the cat food issues I am surprised any Vet would promote something that might not be in your pets best interest.
Called the clinic, the nurse says this is something to discuss with the Doctor at the time of her appointment, she can't tell me what they planned to give her.
I will learn more about this but, if you will, please tell me what you think she should have at this time if she belonged to you.
Thanks, Laurie:sad:

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by Maggieandme

We do spend alot of time outside and she has been known to kill but not eat a few little birds and once a mouse.

If she was eating them, that would be deworming issue rather than a vaccination thing, so nothing to worry about there.

Originally Posted by Maggieandme

Not unlike the cat food issues I am surprised any Vet would promote something that might not be in your pets best interest.

I don't think a lot of vets tend to keep as up-to-date on this as they should. Plus, vaccinations are a big money-maker for them. If the vet gives you any grief about it, tell him/her to check out the latest protocol as determined by the American Association of Feline Practitioners: http://www.catvets.com/professionals...ations/?Id=176

Originally Posted by Maggieandme

I will learn more about this but, if you will, please tell me what you think she should have at this time if she belonged to you.
Thanks, Laurie:sad:

My opinion only, after having done a fair bit of research on the subject, I would only get vaccinated for rabies, and only with the Merial non-adjuvanted Purevax vaccine. If your vet doesn't have it, ask them to order it for you. It's up to you whether you get this annually or not, but I personally wouldn't do it more than every 3 years. Some stats compiled in the US indicated that, of all the pets that contracted rabies, there were just 2 cases where the pet had only been vaccinated once in it's lifetime, and NO cases where the pet had been vaccinated twice or more. The rest had never been vaccinated.

I would definitely not get the feline leukemia vaccine beyond kittenhood, nor any of the other non-core vaccines. The FVRCP 3-in-1 (panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus) might be on my list if I had a multi-cat (more than 3) household, but again only every 3 years. As it stands now with my 15yr old kitty, he will not get anymore vaccines. He was vaccinated yearly until he was 3, then not again until he was 9, then the vet talked me into giving him the FVRCP one when he was 13, but no more. If I was starting fresh with a new kitten, I'd do the first set of shots, possibly a booster, and that would be it.

[Maggieandme]

Thanks krdahmer for your kind words and to Sugarcatmom for your sage advice.
I understand your mandate to educate and promise to read everything you took the time to present. I have copied it to take with us to our appointment.
You really are a wealth of information.
Thanks again, Laurie