View Single Post
  #20  
Old July 10th, 2007, 12:00 AM
Dr Lee's Avatar
Dr Lee Dr Lee is offline
Senior Contributor - Expert
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,060
Some additional thoughts...

I wanted to make sure that this and other threads does not discourage people from obtaining FeLV and rabies vaccines for their cats, if their age and lifestyles require it.

Especially with the advent of the Vet Jet system for FeLV and recombinant technology in general. To date, the Merial recombinant FeLV (Vet Jet) and recombinant rabies vaccines have not been linked to STS formation in cats. The reason for the Vet Jet is that not only does it have recombinant technology but it used an air delivery system which utilizes only 0.255cc of vaccine. Instead of pooling 1cc of vaccine under the skin, the needles injection spreads the 0.25 cc of vaccine in an even distribution which virtually eliminates pooling, a cause of inflammation.

What is recombinant technology? Only the portion of the virus that the body recognized is used. It placed these with a harmless canary virus instead of using a modified dog or cat virus. No possibility of reversion (to the actual disease), greater immunity response in most cases, less anaphylaxis reactions and no documented immune suppression.

So there are some great options for cats who need FeLV and Rabies. Who needs it? Depends on who you ask. When you have some very safe options available, the vaccine can be given with less concern.

Do I have stock in Merial? No. I just really like there vaccines. (I better, since they cost more than any other vaccine I have found yet). Since my vaccine charges are equivalent to many vets around me, we just have lower profit. No biggie - we feel comfortable administering them. I have some technicians who were not vaccinating their pets for these diseases until they started working here where these are available.

Is there controversy? Some - none that say that the recombinant/Vet Jet has any risks - just some controversy that either the other vaccines don't cause the problems or that the Vet Jet hasn't yet been out long enough to know. What is the answer? I don't know but I feel that these are the most safe vaccines to our knowledge to date for cats needing FeLV and rabies. Tomorrow it may change, and I will try to remember to post it here when I learn about it!
__________________
Christopher A. Lee, DVM, MPH, Diplomate ACVPM
Preventive Medicine Specialist With a Focus on Immunology and Infectious Disease
myvetzone.com
Reply With Quote