Do you think that regular booster injections for cats and dogs are necessary?

Question

Or are they just a way to regularly line the pockets of the Vetinary Practice? (UK)

I have kept (outdoor) cats for about 15 years, some I have had immunised regularly and some not, and I've not had any problems when I haven't. What are other peples thoughts on this?

My cat at the moment is a rescue cat and used to going outside before I had her, for those saying keep her indoors I think that is cruel after she has led an outdoor life for so long.

To Barney: read the question, I am talking about booster injections, not the initial immunisations, the boosters are the follow up immunisations that most vets recommend you have every year, just trying to stay on topic and of course she has been initially immunised as I got her from a rescue centre.

Answer 1

My cats all had basic shots when they were younger and I stopped any vaccinations about seven years ago (cats are in their "teens" now). My cats have no risk of exposure that I fear and they are healthy without annual vaccinations. Since I don't have any dogs I don't have to comply with the law on regular rabies vacs.

You might want to go to: http://www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article titled "Vaccination" and also the updates on the vaccination controversies with cats that you can read in her newsletter. Also http://www.animaltalknaturally.com has discussion on vaccinations.

Vets frequently justify the annual vaccinations saying that it gets people in for annual exams for their cats. My cats go every year for their "exam" and they do not receive any "jabs" (I like the way you Brits term those!)

Answer 2

The only way to tell is to have a blood titre test done. This costs about the same or slightly more than the first set but its the only way to tell if your dog is fully protected. It involves taking a sample of blood, then adding some of the virus, then measuring how much the blood reacts. Since there are 4 vaccines, that's 4 tests. (Parvo, distemper, hardpad, leptospirosis). The tetanus jab analogy doesn't stand up, when dogs are tested after a year their antibody levels drop if they have not come into contact with the virus. So annual boosters are necessary, but they are an average. Some dogs levels will be lower and some higher. You can't tell without testing. Most vets will be happy to use the booster if its really only a month late.

Answer 3

This is a way too complicated subject to discuss fully here - you would never bother to read it all! Vets recommend vaccinations based on scientific data provided by the manufacturers of the vaccines. Drugs (veterinary AND human) in the UK undergo very vigorous testing to ensure that they are safe and effective and the recommendations for each drug are based on the results of this testing and research.
The diseases which are usually vaccinated against in cats and dogs are severe and often fatal. The risk of catching these diseases may be small but the consequences are huge hence the need to protect against them. The risk of catching the disease is partly due to the immune status of the population - so called herd immunity and effectively means that those that don't vaccinate are relying on those that do. To give an example, measles is starting to become more common because the number of children getting the MMR vaccine fell - herd immunity fell and the disease gets a foothold again.
On top of this there have been independent studies by respected scientific organisations that have shown no proven link between the vaccines in use and any problems or conditions. Essentially it goes like this - animals get vaccinated, animals get ill sometimes these things happen at the same time but are not linked.
To summarise there are no reasons not to follow the recommendations on vaccination and plenty of reasons to follow them. I am sure any vet worth his salt would be happy to discuss this with you at length if you want to so that you can make a properly informed decision.

Answer 4

These vaccines are given to prevent fatal diseases that have caused death in both cat sand dogs. However the veterinary community has taught us to vaccinate our babies every year. About 10 years this methodology was challenged. Come to find out the it was the drug companies pushing the yearly vaccinations. Studies have found that all those vaccinations are unnecessary.

Here is the protocol that I use for my cats. Kittens are given the booster vaccines at 13 weeks that is the last vaccine that they get. I instruct my pet buyers to take the kitty to the vet approximately one year from the date of the vaccine that my vet dispensed. After that it is THREE years before they should go back. This included the rabies vaccine and the upper respiratory combo vaccine. After they have returned after three years it is another 3 years before they should go back for these vaccines. Once the cat is about 10 years old all vaccines should be avoided as kitty has had a life time of immunity to these dangers.

Answer 5

personally i think any animal going outside should be immunised, my cat is an indoor cat and she had her jabs when she was little but i didnt get the boosters done as she hasnt ever come into contact with other cats. but i know someone who thought the same as you, never had any problems before and one of her cats caught feline leukemia and she didnt know, he then fought with a couple of her other cats and bang 3 cats all sick and costing a heap of money at the vets for a not too positive outlook.
for the sake of what the boosters cost it could save money in the long run

Answer 6

I think regular boosters are very important, vet's will not advise and give treatment if it is unecessary. The highest killer in dogs is parvo, a dog can just sniff at a corner and pick up parvo it is a dreadful way for the dog to die if it catches it, also there is distemper which is an air bourne virus which when the dog is vaccinated for parvo it is also vaccinated for distemper, again this is highly contagious and it is also a killer. Cat flu which your cat is vaccinated against also kills cats of all ages it again is a dreadful way for a cat to die it suffers terribly, their eyes become swollen and sore they sneeze constantly, i couldn't even begin to describe what they go through please don't think for a minute that vaccination is unecessary those animals depend on us to look after their welfare and make sure they don't become ill. I appreciate your cats have not fallen ill but somewhere along the line their mum or their mums mum may have been vaccinated and when mum has fed the newborn mum's immunity has been passed onto the baby thru her milk but it isn't foolproof you can't depend on this that is why vets reccomend vaccination. Im surprised the rescue centre you got your cat from didn't vaccinate before you took her away, or even explained to you why it is so important. I personally prefer my cats to stay in but i never force them to i allow them to come and go i just panick when they are out. But you are right if a cat doesn't want to come in it shouldn't be made to, but she in my opinion still needs to be vaccinated as she is more of risk being out there and mixing with other cats, stray's etc...

Answer 7

Seeing as veterinary education is partly funded by the vaccine manufacturers I think there is certainly something in that. There are safer ways to immunise your dog or cat see the canine health concern website at: http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/ If you must use regular vaccines then the experts are saying that the primary injections plus the first annual booster will be enough to protect your dog for life.

Answer 8

I had the same dilemma last October - (which was when my cat was due her annual jabs). She's had all her injections for the past 4 years since she was a kitten and as she's an indoor cat I didnt see the point of paying if she never goes outside.(Her choice by the way - whenever we try to encourage her to go out for fresh air - she ends up running back in the house!!) Maybe I'm wrong - it will be interesting to see othes views on this.

Answer 9

I have a cat and a dog, my dog is vaccinated every year, he loves to roll around in dirty things and often picks up ticks which could lead to nasty diseases if I didn't vaccinate him.Also when we go on holiday the kennels will not take the dog if he isn't vaccinated and our pet insurance requires us to vaccinate as it won't pay out if the dog gets an illness he should have been protected against. I don't vaccinate my cat and she's 12 years old, very healthy, although she's more of a house cat and doesn't venture very far outside, when we go on holiday we have a neighbour look after her.

Answer 10

If your cats go outdoors they should get all shots and regular boosters.

However, if you have indoor cats, and do not allow outside cats into your premises, you may be able to do without the boosters for rabies and feline leukemia.

If you are not well off you can contact the local animal protection society to find out where to get low price shots.