VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS 

Our recommendations for vaccinations are based on the kitten/cat’s current age and whether it will be indoor only or indoor/outdoor.

The Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calicivirus-Panleukopenia (RCP) vaccine is usually started at 6-8 weeks of age (when the kitten is first presented for an exam).  This is given as a 3 shot series unless it is started past 8 weeks of age, then it will be a 2 shot series. It is boosted 1 year later then given every 3 years subsequently. 

 Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccination is given to ALL kittens as a 2 shot series, beginning at 9 weeks of age or older. This is boosted for ALL cats 1 year later then only the cats at risk (that go outdoors) continue with annual vaccinations.

Rabies vaccinations are started at 12 weeks of age or older. This vaccination is given annually.  The vaccine serves several purposes. First, it obviously will prevent your cat from contracting rabies disease if bitten by a rabid animal. Second, it will prevent your cat from being quarantined for a longer period (than if vaccinated) if it bites a human and breaks the skin.  Third, if you have to move to a state (Hawaii) or country (ie, New Zealand) that is rabies free, your cat will need to have at least 2 rabies vaccinations at a certain interval.

 We use Merial Purevax vaccinations for safety reasons. This vaccines are non-adjuvanated. This means that there is no “carrier agent”.  Vaccine associated sarcomas VAS) (fibrosarcoma tumor induced by vaccination) is usually due to the inflammation to the adjuvant in the vaccine.  Although the incidence of VAS is very low (less than 1 in 10,000 cats) we want to provide your cat with immunity to preventable infections without causing harmful side effects.

FLEA FACTS 

One of the most common misconceptions is that indoor cats cannot get fleas, when in fact San Diego is the perfect climate for fleas.  Fleas can be brought into your house on your socks, beach towels, dogs, or can just be in the environment.  Fleas can reproduce indoors year round.  One female flea can produce 2,000 eggs in its lifetime.  In fact 95% of flea stages are present in the environment rather than on the pet, causing the need for year-round flea control.  So why are fleas so hard to get rid of? 

            Understanding the flea lifecycle will help us control fleas!  There are four life stages which include the flea egg, larvae, pupae, and finally the adult.  Flea eggs live on average for 10 days, larvae have a 12 day average life span, pupa, average 4-5 months, while the adult fleas can live for up to 50 days.  Fleas that are in the environment, not living on your pet ( and often unseen) can survive without a blood meal for more than 100 days.  So what can we do?

            There are two topical treatments “Advantage” and “Frontline” designed to break the lifecycle of the flea by killing the adult fleas and preventing the pupa from developing into adult fleas.  The topical treatments are supposed to last 28-30 days and should be re-applied monthly to prevent infestations.  For the home some options include flea powders such as “Flea Busters” or foggers “Vet Kem” that are available here at our clinic.  Keep in mind it can take up to 6-8 weeks to completely be flea free because of the life cycle stages.  It can take on average, 3-4 weeks for eggs to reach adulthood. 

            So why is it important to keep fleas off my pets?  Well, flea bites can cause anemia in very young or small cats because just one female flea can consume 15 times her body weight in blood and multiply that  by 10 or more fleas and we have a problem.  Flea bites can also cause long term irritation called flea allergy dermatitis.  Some symptoms may be over grooming, scratching, scabbing, and pulling fur out.  See a vet if these symptoms occur.  Consuming fleas can also cause tapeworms which are internal parasites that live within the intestines.  Tapeworms also need to be treated with medication.  So don’t give fleas a chance to infest your home.  Call us with any questions and remember fleas are almost microscopic and are not easily seen.  If you find dark spots that look like pepper that is flea dirt which means the cycle has started in your environment.  If you need flea control products stop by, we would be happy to help!