Vaccinations deserve a lot of respect for cutting down the rates of infectious diseases in cats.
Getting a series of vaccines for kittens and annual vaccines for cats remain as one of the best ways to ensure good health for your cat.
But as the knowledge of feline medicine grows, so do the preventative-health measures.
The need for annual boosters beyond the first kitten series, as well as the first annual booster, is being re-evaluated for many of the vaccines used today.
The right regimen for each vaccine is still not completely known yet, although the law dictates the rabies vaccination for each state.
You should let your veterinarian know that you are interested in learning about the pros and cons of the vaccines that are administered, and the frequency of being repeated.
The way vaccines work is by putting a small amount of the disease-causing virus into the cat, which challenges his immune system to create disease-fighting antibodies.
Should your cat ever come in contact with the virus, his body will be able to recognize the virus and will fight it.
No vaccine is 100% effective and safe, so should you turn down vaccines for your cat because they are not? It is probably not in your cat's best interest to do so.
Occasionally, a cat will develop an allergic reaction for a vaccine.
This usually will show up quickly, and will be taken care of by your veterinarian.
To be sure that this uncommon complication does not become serious, keep your cat confined, and observe him for a few hours after the vaccine is given.
If there are any concerns or problems, call your vet again.
Another concern with pet vaccines is your cat will sometimes develop a malignant tumor at the site where certain shots are given (usually between the shoulder blades).
This is rare, occurring in about 1 of 10,000 vaccinations, and is currently thought to be associated with feline leukemia, or rabies vaccines.
Getting a series of vaccines for kittens and annual vaccines for cats remain as one of the best ways to ensure good health for your cat.
But as the knowledge of feline medicine grows, so do the preventative-health measures.
The need for annual boosters beyond the first kitten series, as well as the first annual booster, is being re-evaluated for many of the vaccines used today.
The right regimen for each vaccine is still not completely known yet, although the law dictates the rabies vaccination for each state.
You should let your veterinarian know that you are interested in learning about the pros and cons of the vaccines that are administered, and the frequency of being repeated.
The way vaccines work is by putting a small amount of the disease-causing virus into the cat, which challenges his immune system to create disease-fighting antibodies.
Should your cat ever come in contact with the virus, his body will be able to recognize the virus and will fight it.
No vaccine is 100% effective and safe, so should you turn down vaccines for your cat because they are not? It is probably not in your cat's best interest to do so.
Occasionally, a cat will develop an allergic reaction for a vaccine.
This usually will show up quickly, and will be taken care of by your veterinarian.
To be sure that this uncommon complication does not become serious, keep your cat confined, and observe him for a few hours after the vaccine is given.
If there are any concerns or problems, call your vet again.
Another concern with pet vaccines is your cat will sometimes develop a malignant tumor at the site where certain shots are given (usually between the shoulder blades).
This is rare, occurring in about 1 of 10,000 vaccinations, and is currently thought to be associated with feline leukemia, or rabies vaccines.
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