Feline Rabies Protocol
Starting November 1st, 2010, we at VIP Petcare Services are changing our protocol regarding rabies vaccinations for cats. Previously, we have been offering two kinds of rabies vaccines, an adjuvanted 3-year version and a nonadjuvanted annual version called the PureVax Feline Rabies. From this point forward, we will only be offering the PureVax Feline Rabies for cats.
An adjuvant is added to a vaccine to stimulate the immune system and increase the effectiveness of the vaccine. However, in recent years some of these vaccines have been linked to serious vaccine reactions. While the 3-year vaccine is still the standard of care for dogs, in cats it has been linked to vaccine-related fibrosarcomas (cancerous tumors at the injection site). This is a relatively rare reaction, but it is a major concern within the Veterinary community because the tumors are generally fatal. Many Veterinarians believe that adjuvants are the cause of these tumors. We feel that the standard of care for cats has shifted to this safer, non-adjuvanted option.
The PureVax rabies is formulated specifically for cats and is considered the safest rabies vaccine available. Because of the difficult nature of its production, this rabies vaccine is more expensive than the 3-year option. In addition, this vaccine, because it is new, has not been approved for 3-year use yet, and as such it must be administered every year. It is our hope that this vaccine is approved for 3-year immunity in the near future.
This was a difficult decision for us to make. While we regret having to change some cats vaccination programs from 3 years to yearly, we have consulted with many Veterinarians and feel that this is in the interest of best medicine and the safest protocol for cats at our clinics. Feline distemper and Leukemia vaccines (for outdoor cats) should be done every year anyway, so this shouldn’t cause extra visits for most cat owners.
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