“The Scoop”… part three!

… We want to know what changes you have ‘inspired in the way local animals are treated.’…

I live in the rural south.  In the days before my diagnosis, I’d go in for my feline annual check-up.  It was a great deal.  I could get all the recommended vaccinations, an exam, routine tests, and a flea & tick treatment all for one low price in one visit… year after year.  Mom only wanted to do what the vet thought was best.  Advertisements were posted everywhere.  The canines had their own annual special, too.  

Then came the bump.  Like many vets, mine wasn’t very familiar with vaccine associated sarcoma (VAS).  He knew it was aggressive and was supposedly “rare”.  He had only seen a few cases first hand.  Of those, they either crossed the bridge or had a recurrence within 9 months… even with surgery.  

In the days surrounding my diagnosis, my vet did some research.  We focused on a radical amputation.   It wasn’t until my one year check-up that my vet told her that I had helped to inspired him to continue to research vaccinations.  In turn, he changed the way the practice vaccinated their patients… especially cats.  In an effort to avoid over-vaccination, they no longer offer all the “recommended” vaccines to every animal that walks through the door.  He makes his recommendations on a case by case basis.   He also changed vaccine formulas.  He now offers vaccines that don’t contain adjuvants, or types of preservatives thought to make the vaccine more effective, but may actually be doing more harm than good.  He also tries to administer these vaccines low on the hind legs, just in case VAS develops and surgery is later needed… it offers the best chance of getting clean margins and recovery.  

So, maybe the next time you’re at the vet, tell them that a little birdie KITTY told you to ask about their vaccination practices.  Take that time to ask questions and educate yourself before you vaccinate.  Who knows?  The vet may even learn something, too.

Some questions Mom now considers:

• Do we really need this particular vaccine?  (Especially if the pet is confined to a personal yard, inside only, or not around other animals.)
• Is this vaccine really needed EVERY year?  How long does immunity last?  Can we get a titer instead? (To measure the animal’s immunity… the vaccine may not even be needed.)
• What’s the local law say about the rabies vaccine?  Is it mandatory?  Are there exemptions?
• Are we using adjuvant-free vaccines?
• If multiple vaccinations are needed, can we spread them out over a period of time and not get them all at once?
• What are the possible side-effects?  What do I need to watch for?  

I won’t ever get another vaccine again since I had such a terrible reaction.  Mom is now very careful about vaccinating my housemates.  

I hope this has been helpful.  =)

Next time, the topic will be my diet.