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Published on 05/12/1999 All articles from this issue

Cats and vaccination reactions - not always good

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By Dr. Glynn Echerd

Pet Pause

There is a serious problem facing veterinarians and cat owners today. Vaccinating cats has been linked to an aggressive form of skin cancer called fibrosarcoma. No one knows for sure but the risk is probably about one tumor caused for every 5,000 vaccinations given. This problem does not seem to affect dogs. There is a group of veterinarians, the Vaccine Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force, working on this problem They have created a vaccination protocol to minimize a given cat's risk of getting cancer from a vaccination. Before I vaccinate any cat I talk to pet owners about the risks and benefits associated with vaccination. Together we make a case by case determination about what is best for the cat. Here is the general advice I give my clients.

Avoid vaccinations with adjuvants - chemicals added to vaccinations to improve the cat's immune response. Some veterinarians believe they are linked to sarcoma formation because they increase the local inflammatory response. It is possible to vaccinate cats for some diseases with vaccines that don't include adjuvants. The tradeoff is the vaccine costs more and may have to be given more frequently.

Keep your cat indoors and vaccinate less. Indoor cats have less exposure potential to all kinds of diseases and live longer, healthier and more comfortable lives than their outdoor counterparts. I recommend vaccinating indoor adult cats every three years for rabies (it's the law) and the three-in-one FVRCP (indoor cats can get these diseases). I don't usually vaccinate indoor cats for feline leukemia virus or FIP. Outdoor cats should be vaccinated annually for FVRCP and feline leukemia. Be aware that boarding kennels and groomers may require more recent vaccinations before admitting your pet.

Cats should be vaccinated on limbs as far from the body as possible. Hopefully your cat will never develop a fibrosarcoma. If he does surgery is the most effective treatment. Even with aggressive surgery it is very common for the tumor to return to the same spot. Tumors that cannot be removed by lumpectomy may require the amputation of a limb. This unattractive option might save your cat's life. Make sure all vaccines are administered with this morbid thought in mind.

Watch for lumps at the injection site. Most inflammatory reactions resolve in ninety days or less while sarcomas do not shrink or go away, they just keep growing. It is still very important to make sure your healthy cat has a physical examination by a veterinarian at least every twelve months. My personal opinion is that annual examinations are much more important to your pet's health than vaccinations. In addition to early diagnosis of everything from obesity to heart failure it gives pet owners a chance to ask questions about things like vaccine associated sarcomas. Be sure your vaccination schedule is tailored to your cat's needs.

Glynn Echerd is the veterinarian and owner of Kindness Pet Hospital at 440 First St. in downtown Los Altos. You can call Dr. Echerd for more information at 948-8287.