Wellness and Vaccination Programs

Of all the household pets, cats seem to be able to hide their diseases the best. This, unfortunately, can make it difficult for the pet owner to know when to seek veterinary care. Earlier disease detection is possible by having your cat undergo a complete veterinary exam that is combined with a blood screening profile and urinalysis. This level of wellness monitoring may help to ensure a longer, healthier life for your cat. The peace of mind knowing that everything is fine would be better yet.

Veterinarians have historically recommended this kind of in-depth physical exam for the geriatric patient. I personally feel we should be monitoring the health status of the middle-aged cat more closely (especially being middle-aged myself). So, just what constitutes a middle-aged vs. geriatric feline. If you ask a veterinarian, I suppose it would depend on how old the veterinarian is. Anyway, clients frequently ask me to equate their cat’s age to human years. The following table reflects my thoughts on a feline-human life equivalent:

Benicia Cat Clinic now has improved on-site laboratory testing capabilities for purposes of screening our patients in a more economical and expedient manner. We encourage you to call the office to schedule a wellness exam if your cat is forty-something or older and has not been in recently.

It is possible for routine vaccinations to be harmful to cats. Fortunately, the likelihood of a serious or life-threatening reaction is rare. Some cats, especially kittens, may experience some loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, and/or muscle soreness. However, these signs should not last beyond 24 hours. Allergic or anaphylactic reactions can be life-threatening and need immediate attention, but I rarely see this happen. If your cat has had a previous reaction that lasted more than 24 hours, pretreatment with an antihistamine injection is oftentimes helpful.

Occasionally, a small lump can occur at a vaccine site. These are local inflammatory reactions that are usually not harmful and in most cases do not require treatment, but should be brought to my attention if detected. They usually resolve within 1-2 months. The current recommendation is to monitor these lumps closely and to biopsy any that persist beyond this time period.

The reason for this is that there has been some concern over a link between vaccine lumps and the subsequent formation of a type of cancer called fibroscarcoma. It is well known that fibroscarcoma can also occur spontaneously in cats at sites other than where vaccines have been given. Fortunately, the incidence of this cancer at vaccine sites is very low, perhaps as low as 1 in 10,000 vaccinated cats. Nonetheless, the veterinary profession is taking a close look at this. A task force committee has been formed to try and determine whether a cause and effect relationship actually exists.

My present recommendation is to vaccinate outdoor and indoor/outdoor cats against feline distemper/upper respiratory disease, rabies and feline leukemia virus because the risk to an unvaccinated cat from these life-threatening and fatal diseases far outweighs the unlikely occurrence of a tumor development or anaphylactic reaction. On the other hand, I don’t feel we should be over-vaccinating strictly-indoor cats. Indoor cats should receive a distemper/upper respiratory vaccine every three years but do not need the FeLV vaccine. An annual rabies vaccine regimen should still be encouraged for all cats due to public health implications unless a prior adverse reaction event has occurred. Please keep in mind that a yearly physical examination is good preventative health care for your feline regardless of which vaccines are provided.

Benicia Cat Clinic promotes wellness and preventative health care and recommends the following basic level of care for your cat:

• Annual comprehensive wellness exam for all patients. Semi-annual exams for patients over the age of 9 years (approximately 50 years in human equivalent) or in patients with ongoing medical conditions. Visits include a physical exam, nutritional consultation, and discussion about appropriate vaccines and parasite control.
• Annual dental cleanings performed on an outpatient basis under safe and carefully monitored anesthesia.

• Annual FeLV/FIV blood screening and fecal exams for at-risk cats.
• Geriatric blood screening profiles and urinalysis for cats over 7 years of age.

Our vaccine recommendations are tailored to meet your cat’s specific needs. In most cases we recommend the following core vaccines:

• FVRCP annually until age 3, then once every 3 years.
• Rabies vaccine annually.
• FeLV annually for at-risk cats.

As dogs and cats get older, they need more attention and special care. Our senior wellness program can help your pet remain fit and healthy as he or she ages and help us catch any potential problems earlier, when they’re easier to treat or manage. Regular veterinary exams can actually help your pet live longer, too!

Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a pet’s life, but it becomes even more critical when your dog or cat enters his or her senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. In addition, dogs and cats may not show any signs of even serious diseases until they are quite advanced.

Senior status varies depending on your pet’s breed and size. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, and cats generally live longer than dogs. We can help you determine what life stage your pet is in.

Before your dog or cat reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring your pet in for a baseline exam and diagnostic workup. This will give us a record of what’s normal for your pet so we can keep track of any changes. In most cases, we suggest this checkup for when your dog turns 7 years of age or your cat turns 8 years of age. Thereafter, your senior pet will benefit from more frequent veterinary exams and diagnostic testing.

We can treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age, including those associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (similar to Alzheimer’s in humans). We can also improve your pet’s quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain, recommending an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan, and suggesting environmental modifications to keep your pet comfortable.

We will tailor a senior wellness plan to your pet’s individual needs. If you have any questions, we would be happy to discuss our senior wellness program in more detail. Call us today to schedule your pet’s exam!