Community Chat

[MyBoyRusty]

I have to get my cat his rabies shot and I'm worried about the side effects that it might cause he's had one before but I don't remember if it made him sick or not. I wouldn't get him one but the complex where I live requires it. It'll be the 3 year vaccine. How has it effected your cat those who have them?

[kittymomNC]

For several years now, my vet has been giving the 1-year vaccine. You can get the 3-year but they recommend the other one...it's been a while and I don't remember why. The only time I ever had a cat have a reaction to a shot was when they combined the 3-year rabies with the distemper and/or the one for feline leukemia. The 1-year shots have given none of my cats any problems, but neither did the 3-year except for that combination shot.

[MyBoyRusty]

Thank you for your answer I'll probably go with the 3 year shot that way he won't to have it again for a few years.

[kittymomNC]

Catlover2, your post got me to thinking about this, because one of my cats is going in for her annual exam and rabies shot this week. I could not remember exactly why my vet had recommended changing to the 1-year vaccine several years ago. So I did some research, had to look at a lot of different sites, but finally came up with an abbreviated version of what the problem apparently is with the 3-year vaccine. I don't want to scare you because, as I said, I've had several cats and they got the 3-year vaccine up until a few years ago with no problems. But here is what I found.

Most all 3-year rabies vaccines are adjuvanted vaccines. A vaccine adjuvant is a substance that is added to the vaccine to increase the body's immune response to the vaccine. It makes the immune response last longer.

Apparently there is an increased risk of a cat developing a fibrosarcoma (cancer) at the injection site of a 3-year adjuvanted vaccine. Therefore, it is recommended that the vaccine be injected into the leg, because the cancer can be treated or the leg removed if necessary, and the cat can survive. If it is injected between the shoulder blades and the cancer develops, there is not much that can be done.

I couldn't find any information as to what percentage of increased risk is associated with the 3-year, but I thought I would go ahead and tell you about it so you will be informed. You might want to ask your vet about it before you get the injection, so it would settle your mind. It may be a very small risk, I don't know, but apparently a lot of vets have gone to the 1-year vaccine because it does not have the additives.

I hope this helps.

[MyBoyRusty]

Thank you that does help I will certainly ask the vet which one I should go with it's scary to think about I've read about that too and that's why I've delayed getting his updated rabies shot.

[kittymomNC]

On 8/3/2014 CatLover2 said:

Thank you that does help I will certainly ask the vet which one I should go with it's scary to think about I've read about that too and that's why I've delayed getting his updated rabies shot.

I can absolutely understand how you feel - after all, they're our babies! Mine that has to have her exam this week has to be sedated - two years ago I gave her a pill that was a mild sedative two hours before her appt - she was asleep when the vet came in the room and I thought it was a miracle. But as soon as the vet touched her, she exploded! Last year, I got her there without the pill, they injected her or gave her whatever kind of sedation (apparently pretty heavy) and it was 6 days before I felt like she was back to normal.

I've been procrastinating this year because they gave me a phenobarbital pill (a heavier sedative than the first one two years ago) to give her two hours ahead of time. I don't want to give it to her, but I told them they can't give her what she had last year, so I'm in a real quandary. I guess I'm going to have to give her the pill and see what happens - they said she should just go to sleep or be really sleepy, maybe a little wobbly, and the effects would wear off within a day or two - for me, that's still too long. I don't know what to do.....

[MyBoyRusty]

I just talked to a animal hospital in a near by town and they said that they haven't had any problems with either vaccine but really depended on the animal but I felt more easier with the 1 year that I should go with that. I hate to put him through that because he's going to be upset as it is.

[kittymomNC]

I guess if it makes you feel any better at all, just be thankful you can take him under fairly normal circumstances. I have one 16-year old that has been going 2X a week for fluid treatments for kidney disease, and now is going 3X a week, and I'm giving her blood pressure medication for high blood pressure. She is SO good about it, it's unreal. But the other one, as I said, she's a whole different ball game...She also has anxiety problems and is scared of everything. I always say I have 2 "special needs kitties"! Good luck with your appointment...I hope he does well!

[MyBoyRusty]

Thank you.

[jaxs mom]

The only cat I've ever gotten a rabies shot for was the stray I was feeding that was living outside. I don't give them to my indoor cats. If I was going to give one, it would be purevax because it's free from adjuvants which are linked to sarcoma in cats.