Feline 3 in 1 Vaccination Protocol
Starting April 9th, 2011, we at VIP Petcare Services are changing our protocol regarding feline vaccinations. For many years we have offered the 4in1 (A.K.A. FVRCP+C) vaccine as the primary combination vaccine available to cats. The decision to carry the 4in1 vaccine was made long ago after consulting with a number of veterinarians, who then considered it the standard of care for cats. The vaccine includes protection from the diseases Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, and Chlamydiosis. At the time it was considered standard practice to protect all cats against these basic diseases, regardless of their lifestyle.
Vaccine protocol is constantly changing, however, and the standards of care have evolved over the years. Chlamydiosis is now considered by the veterinary community to be a non-core vaccine. Cats that are exposed to multiple-cat communities in their environment may be recommended to receive this vaccine. However, indoor cats and most tame outdoor cats can do without this protection, as it is simply not necessary anymore. Furthermore, treatment for the disease Chlamydiosis can easily be just as costly as treatment for a vaccine reaction from a 4in1 shot. The disease itself is generally not life-threatening, so the consensus is that the risk of over-vaccinating is slightly greater than the risk of contracting the disease.
In light of this information, VIP has decided that we will offer a 3in1 (A.K.A. FVRCP) vaccine for cats in all of our feline vaccine packages. Going forward, the 4in1 vaccine will still be available to all those that request it, but the standard vaccine that we will recommend to all clients will be the 3in1. It will include Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus, and Calicivirus. This is considered more than adequate protection by our team of veterinarians.
To all clients: Please consult with your personal veterinarian if you feel your cat is at risk for Chlamydiosis. If so, VIP will be able to administer a 4in1 vaccine for the same price as a 3in1. Please contact us with any questions or concerns about this change in protocol.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our customer service department at 800-HAPPYPET (427-7973) or email us at info@happypet.com.
Devan Paddock
Director of Public Relations