Fall 2008 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

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Ask Dr. B The Value of Vaccines: Protecting Your New Kitten Q: I just adopted a new kitten, and I want to make sure she starts off life on the right paw – what vaccines does she need to stay happy and healthy? – Kitten Lover in Kensington A: Up until about 15 years ago, the answer to this question was a fairly standard one: your kitten should receive every vaccine that is available for cats. Later, as an adult, it should receive every vaccine available every year for its entire life. However, in the early 1990s, it was recognized that some cats can develop very serious reactions to some vaccines, including the development of a life-threatening cancer at the vaccination site. As veterinarians began to study this phenomenon, it became apparent that we were over-vaccinating some cats. They were receiving vaccines that they really did not need. As a consequence, today, opinions vary somewhat as to which vaccines are recommended. Opinions also vary as to how often these vaccines should be given. To try to put some scientific basis behind the recommendations that veterinarians were making, the American Association of Feline Practitioners put out a set of recommendations that was based on the best possible scientific information available. This group tried to weigh the benefits gained by vaccine administration versus the risk of side effects that all vaccines have. To determine which vaccines an individual cat needs, it is important to make an honest appraisal of that cat’s lifestyle and environment. A cat living on the 8 th floor of a high rise apartment that never goes out of the apartment has a completely different risk of exposure to serious contagious diseases than does a cat that lives outdoors and comes into contact with many other neighborhood cats. Because of this difference in exposure risks, the apartment cat should receive different vaccine recommendations than the outdoor cat.* We now divide vaccines up into “core” and “non-core” groups. The “core” vaccines are recommended for all cats, be they indoor or outdoor, while the “non-core” vaccines are recommended only for those cats that have significant risk of exposure to the diseases these vaccines are designed to protect against. The core vaccines that are recommended for all kittens are: 1. FVRCP, or a vaccine against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, a respiratory infection 2. Feline Calicivirus, which also protects against respiratory infection 3. Feline Panleucopenia, often called Feline Distemper All kittens will need a series of at least two of the above vaccines given two to four weeks apart. The exact number of vaccines each kitten receives will depend on the age of the kitten at the time they start this series of vaccines. As a general rule, the earlier they start (as early as five weeks of age), the better protection they receive, but the greater the number of vaccinations they will require. Finally, your kitten should receive a single rabies vaccine after they are four months of age. As an adult, the FVRCP needs to be repeated every three years for most cats throughout their entire lives. Rabies vaccination is repeated at one year after the first vaccine was administered, and then it is repeated every three years thereafter. Your regular veterinarian recommends the non-core vaccines only if it is felt that your cat has a significant risk of being exposed to certain diseases. The Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) vaccines are the two most commonly recommended Photo: Jen Petit non-core vaccines available. These two diseases are only spread by direct contact of cats, so if your cat is indoors and has minimal to no direct contact with other cats, these vaccines are typically not recommended. When making a decision about which vaccines to have administered to your cat, it is important to sincerely evaluate your cat’s environment. While not all cats need every vaccine available, it is also important to recognize that administration of the proper vaccines for your cat is one of the most important health decisions you will be making. Modern vaccines have saved literally millions of cats’ lives by preventing life-threatening contagious diseases. Jim Babbitt, D.V.M. San Diego Humane Society and SPCA * Due to the threat of overpopulation, disease, predators and harm from vehicles, the San Diego Humane Society recommends that pet owners keep cats indoors. For more interesting and informative articles on caring for your pet, please visit www.sdhumane.org. Or, if you have a veterinary question or issue you would like to see addressed in this column, email info@sdhumane.org with “ASK DR. B” in the subject line. AnimalFare • Fall 2008 www.sdhumane.org 16
San Diego Humane Society and SPCA For the Animals Food/Treats: • Cat and Dog Treats: – Bonito flake cat treats – Dog biscuits (e.g. Milk Bones) – Natural Balance rolls – Soft-type dog and cat treats • For Behavior Training and Veterinary Use: – Canned Chicken – Cheeze Whiz – Meat-flavored baby food • Milk replacement formula for kittens and puppies: – KMR Kitten Milk Replacer (powdered) – Esbilac Milk Replacer (powdered) • Pedigree dog food (canned) • Purina One cat/kitten food (canned) • Timothy Hay (in packaged bales) for guinea pigs and rabbits Toys/Enrichment Items: • Cat/kitten toys and scratchers • Dog Chew Toys: – Nylabones – Pig’s ears – Pressed rawhide bones – Bully sticks • Dog/puppy toys – Plush and squeaky type – KONG food carrier toys • Plastic children’s pool Other: • Agility tunnel • Assorted silverware • Bathmats with rubber backings • Blankets (wool, army surplus type), towels, full and queen-size comforters • Can openers • Cat litter (clumping and non-clumping) • Carefresh small pet litter • Dog and cat grooming brushes • Dog and cat harnesses • Dog shirts and sweaters (sizes medium and/or small) • Dog houses • Grooming cage and table drier* • Heating pads (electrical [non-automatic shutoff type] and microwave-able) • Newspapers • Overhead trolley/pulley system for dogs • Pet carriers and padded pet beds • Portable CD players with built in speakers (battery operated and AC adapter) • Small animal cages, exercise balls, water bottles, etc. • SureTemp Plus Electric Thermometer by Welch Allyn* For the Society Miscellaneous/Other: • AA batteries w i s h l i s t • Animal-themed children’s books and movies • Baskets and storage containers • Defibrillator* • Flashlight mount for vehicle* • General office supplies (see website for details) • Lint rollers and refills • Paper towels • Party/non-denominational holiday decorations (new) • Plastic buckets • Reflective safety vests • Silk flowers (assorted) • Small bumper trailer to carry flood/water rescue gear* • Storage containers (Rubbermaid-type), all sizes • Two-way radios (cordless) • Wet/dry Vacuum (small canister, heavyduty style) • Ziploc bags Gift Certificates/Cards to: • Grocery stores • IKEA • Michaels • Office Depot • local gas stations, restaurants, movie theaters and bookstores *please call for details For more information about Wish List items, please contact devast@sdhumane.org or (619) 243-3401. H Thank You to Our Media Friends Tune-in to learn about the San Diego Humane Society! The following media outlets provide regular coverage on adoptable animals, behavior training advice and other information for the San Diego Humane Society at no cost. For questions or comments on any of our media outreach efforts, email pr@sdhumane.org. San Diego Union-Tribune KFMB-TV Channel 8 KUSI-TV Channel 9/51 Magic 92.5 FM sdPets Magazine Pet of the Week (Saturdays in the Our San Diego section) Adopt a Pet section (Quarterly) Pet Friends (Fridays at 6:50 a.m.) Pet of the Week (Saturdays at 8:45 a.m.) Ask Dr. Mark segment (2 nd Wednesday of every month at 7:40 a.m.) Jagger and Kristi’s Kritters segment (Every third Monday at 8:30 a.m.) Adopt a Pet section (monthly) 17 www.sdhumane.org AnimalFare • Fall 2008
Page 1 and 2: Fall 2008 • Vol. 43 No. 3
Page 3 and 4: From the Mailbox Dear Humane Societ
Page 5 and 6: cover story The San Diego Humane So
Page 7 and 8: H 3 H 5 H 6 H 7 H 4 H 8 Photos: Jen
Page 9 and 10: Carving Out Your Legacy Looking for
Page 11 and 12: Photo: Kristin MacDonald Photo: Can
Page 13 and 14: In Memory Of In Memory Of In Memory
Page 15: In Memory Of Milady Tucker & Ebony
Page 19 and 20: fall 2008 Calendar of Events The fo

Fall 2008 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

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Fall 2008 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA