Vaccine programs for cats

Question 1

Concerns of cat vaccinations

Answer 1

Protection against severe disease
Avoiding injection site sarcomas
Avoiding killed vaccines
Avoiding over vaccinating

Question 2

Core vaccines for cats

Answer 2

Rabies
Feline panlukopenia
Feline herpes virus 1( viral rhinotrachetitis)
Feline calicivirus

Question 3

Feline panleukopenia (feline distemper,P) can cause what in cats

Answer 3

Vomiting, diarrhea, death
Brain defects in kittens

Question 4

Feline calicivirus (C) can cause what

Answer 4

URT infections

Question 5

How and when are cat core vaccines given

Answer 5

Called FVRCP or FHCP combos
Every 4 weeks from 6-8 weeks of age
Final dose when > 16 weeks
So 8, 12,16+ weeks or 12 and 16 weeks
MLV Panleukopenia: not to pregnant queens or kittens <1 month

Question 6

IN Feline Vaccine – feline herpesvirus-1, feline calicivirus +/- panleukopenia
potential advantages

Answer 6

Stimulate IgA and mucosal immunity which is where thes disease attack
Stimulate systemic is well
No sarcomas

Question 7

IN FVRCP vaccine advantages

Answer 7

No interference from colostral antibody
Experimentally, beneficial if given as little as 4 days before exposure
As early as 4 weeks of age
Used in shelters and situations where ealy protection is important
Often along with a SC MLV vaccine to ensure panleukopenia protection

Question 8

Why are killed vaccines avoided in cats ad why

Answer 8

Killed vaccines usually avoided as higher risk of sarcoma
Due to what component of killed vaccines?
adjuvants

Question 9

Rabies vaccines used for cats are

Answer 9

Legally required in some provinces (Ontario)
Can use a killed or Canarypox vectored vaccine
Some prefer the Canarypox vectored because less risk of sarcoma
Need to boost annually or every 3 years
A 3-year Canarypox vectored vaccine has been licensed

Question 10

Would you use a FVRCP+rabies combo

Answer 10

Give a Canarypox vectored rabies as a combo vaccine with FVRCP SC (PureVax 4/Rabies)
Currently requires annual revaccination

Question 11

When do you need to booster a canarypox rabies vaccination

Answer 11

Give Canarypox vectored rabies 3-year vaccine
PureVax Feline Rabies 3 YR
One dose at
>12 weeks
1 year
Then every 3 years

Question 12

Killed rabies vaccines are given to cats when

Answer 12

> 12 weeks
1 year
Then every 3 years if using 3-year vaccine (DEFENSOR 3, IMRAB 3, RABVAC 3)
Or every year is using 1 year vaccine

Question 13

Non-core cat vaccines

Answer 13

Feline leukemia
Virulent calicivirus
Feline chlamydia felis vaccines
Feline bordetella bronchiseptica

Question 14

Feline Leukemia Virus is

Answer 14

Considered core for kittens (due to increased susceptibility and unknown future lifestyle)
About 4-5% of Canadian cats get infected

Question 15

Virulent Calicivirus Vaccine is

Answer 15

A more virulent variant of the standard URT calicivirus
Causes ulcerative skin lesions
Rare disease
Standard vaccine gives partial protection
May see more strains used in vaccines in future

Question 16

Feline Chlamydia Felis Vaccine is how affective

Answer 16

Incomplete protection, high risk of adverse side effects

Question 17

Risk of vaccinating cats

Answer 17

All the usual
Sarcomas have received a lot of attention
FeLV and rabies are the vaccinations that are most lily to cause injection site sarcomas
Avoid over vaccination
Avoid killed vaccines

Question 18

Where to vaccinate cats

Answer 18

Core combo vaccines – as distally as possible in left front limb
Rabies as distally as possible right rear limb
FeLV – as distally as possible on left rear limb
SC

Question 19

Core cat vaccines are

Answer 19

Feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes)
Calicivirus
Panleukopenia
Rabies