Kitty Update

[AChiOAlumna]

She seems more like her old self this morning. She was out and about when I woke up and she ran to the food bowl (like she always does) as soon as I fed them. She''s still growling more than usual at Smokey, which leads me to believe that something happened between them yesterday while I was gone (another entrapment? Who knows?)

Still, I''m keeping an eye on her...

 

[AChiOAlumna]

I now think it's a reaction to the shot. I went to pet her tonight and when I petted her leg (her thigh is where they injected her), she growled....poor girl!! She was traumatized and we have to go through this again in a few weeks...

Smokey knows she's not up to par and he's been taking advantage of the situation by chasing her more...there's been more growling and hissing, but she knows how to escape him!

 

[moremoremore]

So glad she got a clean bill of health!!!
And when we take Scotty to the vet, he is so traumatized (he is VERY sensitive) that he will hide (VERY unlike him) for a day or two and not come near us. It''s totally normal. My other two will just step out of the carrier and have a snack and then forget it ever happened. Scotty is very negatively affected. In fact, sometimes he gets sick in the carrier he''s upset so easily. She Bunny could just be a little sensitive and absolutely feeling a little out of it ffrom the shots! She''''ll be fine in no time. And you are a saint for hanging in there with these two crazy fur balls!

 

[Lorelei]

That is strange, did she have any other meds Achio? Just curious as you say they injected her in the thigh, they don''t usually give vaccines intramuscularly, at least they don''t here, it''s always subcut in the neck scruff.

I am glad she is doing a little better, the soreness in her thigh should ease in a few days, tell the vet the discomfort she was in when you next take her.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Lorelei...I agree...for every time I have seen vaccinations given, it was always in between the shoulder blades. This was the first time I''ve seen shots given i nthe thigh...and if it''s the same leg that they drew blood from for the FIV/FeLV, then it''s no wonder that her leg was in so much pain!

I will tell the vet the next time so they don''t hurt my baby again...

 

[Lorelei]

I have been thinking about this, the only thing I could think of is that maybe in the States there is a vaccine for a disease we don''t have here that would need to be done I/M. Definitely ask the vet why she was injected into the thigh and tell him how painful she found it, poor little dear - and you are a great Mommy Achio

I haven''t heard of any vaccines that have to be administered intramuscularly before, maybe I''m wrong but it does seem strange. I feel for her, had a shot in my arm on Thursday and it still hurts

One of mine gets a reaction when he is vaccinated, he is a little off for a couple of days then gets a big swelling on the injection site - it takes about a month to go.

 

[AndyRosse]

AChiOAlumna, the shots were administered not in the scruff of the neck because of a serious cancer that is vaccine related: Vaccine related Fibrosarcoma.

It is an aggressive cancer that requires surgery to remove the tumor plus a certain amount of healthy tissue all around. So the problem is that when the shot is administered in the scruff of the neck, the tumor often grows too close to the spine for adequate removal of healthy tissue. Unfortunately, the survival rate of this type of cancer is very low; I think the average is a year and a half with surgery and radiation. So vets are now administering vaccines in other areas of the body where tumors could be more easily removed. Plus, while this is kind of gross and troublesome to me, some vets believe that if the tumor forms in a leg, then amputation of the leg is the best treatment to try and not have any future tumors occur.

I only really know about this because Rascal had a bump in the scruff of the neck, and all of a sudden, my vet is talking cancer, surgery, radiation, etc. Thankfully, it turned out to be a fatty tumor, but not after I spent a month thinking this might be the last July I would be spending with my baby.

While this is rare, it is a growing type of problem in cats, and I personally think vets should be discussing the risks of shots with owners. I don't mean that cats shouldn't be given distemper shots, etc., because the benefits from those shots tend outweigh this risk, but I do think that cats should only be given shots that absolutely pertain to them. So Rascal only gets rabies (required by law) and distemper shots. After learning all this, I now talk with the vet about every shot.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Rascal that''s so interesting as Smokey got his vaccination update just after we got Bunny (to make sure he was up-to-date) and they shot him in the scruff. Now, a month later, Bunny''s getting vaccinations I/M in the same clinic. I don''t get the cats rabies shots as they aren''t required where I live and I don''t want to give the cats more than they need. I do need to finish Bunny''s vaccinations just to ensure they "take," but after that, we''ll see...they''re both strictly indoor cats, so I don''t have to worry about as many of the diseases as for outdoor cats.

 

[Blue824]

Wow, Rascal I never knew about that risk of cancer from the vaccines. I never paid attention to where they do my cats'' shots...but I recall it being their neck and I think the last time they took them out of the room. I''ll have to ask about that the next time I''m there for a visit.

Glad Bunny is feeling better from her vet visit. One of my cats hates going so much one time she started frothing at the mouth because she was so nervous, poor babies, we''re only trying to do what is good for them! I explain that to them every time, lol, but they just don''t listen! Thankfully it is *usually* only once a year.

 

[AndyRosse]

Blue, you just never think that something so beneficial as a vaccine could cause such a problem!! Some vets speculate that certain ingredients in the vaccines are causing the tumors, while others think it has to do with the size of the needle used.

I remember reading that certain brands of vaccines had much higher incidents of this tumor than others, but I don''t recall any names, etc. And I don''t think research is very widespread at this point in time.

It is a scary thing IMO. I never paid much attention to where the shots were given (and sometimes Rascal was taken out of the room for them too). But when the vet felt the lump in Rascal''s scruff, suddenly he was flipping through his chart to see how old Rascal was and what vaccinations he had been given earlier in life. That is when he said that he no longer gives injections in the scruff (though, his partner had just given Rascal an injection in his scruff a month earlier!!

). Soon after I switched vets, and when I told them of Rascal''s biopsy for the lump, the new vets (two of them) both confirmed that they no longer give injections in the scruff of the neck either.

All I know is that I am now a much more active participant in my cat''s healthcare than I used to be, probably to the dislike of Rascal''s vets.

 

[Lorelei]

Thanks for the info Rascal - I no longer have mine vaccinated as they too are housecats, also some vets have said as Achio is thinking that once the full course has been given that the protection can last much longer than originally thought. That is worrisome, I mentioned in my above post about one of mine swelling in the neck after a vaccine, he hasn''t been done for a couple of years now and the swelling has long gone, but it is good to know that I need to be extra careful.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Here is a question about the vaccinations. Many boarders or pet sitters require proof of recent vaccinations to know that the cat is protected. Could this increase the need for vaccinations, and hence, increase the risk of tumors? I can''t remember if my pet sitter requires any certs (I don''t think she does), but I remember once we had to board Smokey as our house was being fumigated. We boarded him for the weekend to keep him safe and they required certs for current vaccinations and rabies.

Now the rabies I know we haven''t updated since giving it to him that one time about 7 years ago. But what about the increased risk with other vaccinations if required by the boarders?

 

[Lorelei]

I can't say for in the States, but here in England all reputable kennels and catteries insist on evidence that a cat or dog is vaccinated and won't take them if this isn't provided. I suppose it is weighing up the risks if your cat goes outside, which is worse the chance of the cat contracting FeLV or FIV etc, compared to the small risk of vaccine induced tumour, also if you travel a lot and need to board your cat frequently. I hope ECF our PS vet sees this thread, she will be able to answer I'm sure.

 

[AndyRosse]

Date: 11/7/2005 2:15:11 AM
Author: Lorelei
Thanks for the info Rascal - I no longer have mine vaccinated as they too are housecats, also some vets have said as Achio is thinking that once the full course has been given that the protection can last much longer than originally thought. That is worrisome, I mentioned in my above post about one of mine swelling in the neck after a vaccine, he hasn''t been done for a couple of years now and the swelling has long gone, but it is good to know that I need to be extra careful.

Cats tend to be very sensitive when they are given shots. Rascal almost always gets a little lump at the vaccination site (he gets a lump whether it is a vaccine or cortisone or antibotics or just fluids), but it quickly decreases in size and goes away within a couple weeks. That is fine. It is just a harmless reaction to the shot.

I think these tumors often show up even years after a cat has been vaccinated. That is why my vet was looking to Rascal''s medical records to see if he had ever been vaccinated in the scruff of the neck.

And please, I''m not trying to scare anyone! I think in most cases, it is worth the risk to vaccinate a cat for certain things. If Rascal was an outdoor cat or was around other cats, I would have to consider having him vaccinated for FIV, etc. and whatever other shots are out there.

And AChiOAlumna, any reputable kennel, etc. will require you to have all current vaccinations for the safety of your pet and others. Again, I think it is well worth the risk. And it is not just kennels, etc. that want current, up to date vaccinations. My vet will not treat my cat unless we stay current on his required vaccinations.

From what I understand, there is obviously concern by vets about telling every cat owner about this possible adverse side effect from vaccinations. If people are afraid their cats might get this, then they won''t vaccinate, and then we will have many more cats dying from totally preventable diseases and problems!! That is why I am not saying this to scare anyone, because believe me, Rascal will continue to get his two shots because their benefits greatly outweigh this risk.

 

[Lorelei]

I hear you Rascal, I too believe for outdoor cats it is too risky NOT too vaccinate. I checked with my vet a while back on this as mine are all housecats, this is very unusual in England and he said not to worry, he knows us and our cats well and thought that they would be fine without it. I have had a cat with feline leukaemia in the past and if I thought or my vet thought that mine were at the slightest risk I would have them vaccinated religiously. Also I am very careful with hygiene, if I am petting someone else''s cat I wash my hands thoroughly before handling mine, in case of diseases. Also I am very vigilant for fleas as they can carry many diseases, luckily as mine are indoor we are flea free thank goodness, but I still keep a lookout.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Rascal..that''s great information and it makes a lot of sense...it''s too bad that for all we do to try to keep our pets healthy, there are some inadvertent risks that we have to face and determine which is the worse of two evils! *SIGH*

 

[AndyRosse]

The overall lesson here is NOT that you shouldn't vaccinate your cats, but instead, you and your vet should discuss each cat's treatment individually, taking into consideration all the relevant factors and then making a rational decision. Which thankfully it sounds like we all do!

AND, you should get familiar with your cat's body, so that you know what is normal and what is not normal. If you thoroughly brush or rub your cat often, then you will be able to find lumps and other problems early, and that is the best in all situations!

Okay AChiOAlumna, I KNOW you have a new camera, and I KNOW that I haven't seen any "backend" pics of BB yet!!

hehe

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am so glad that things seem to be working out. I am going through a similar process (as you know) and can relate!!! It is heartbreaking. I am sure the process is different with an adult and a kitten. The kitten seems oblivious that our other cat hates her. It''s so funny. I also CANNOT wait to see this bunny butt.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Rascal...I''m trying!!! I''m trying!!! She purposely makes sure that I don''t have access to that cute bunny butt!! I''ve been following her around with my camera and she always runs!! Go figure!!

I''m trying though....I haven''t given up!!!

Tacori...it''s actually easier to introduce a kitten to an adult than to introduce one adult to another...so if I can do it, you can too!!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Achio, how about sneaking up behind her with the camera while she is eating a meal?

Especially if it is something delicious she might stay put! Tacori I know how you feel, poor little guy, he will win Madison over honestly! You have done fantastically in a very short time, if ever you get discouraged go to the beginning of this thread and see how far Achio has come and she was put through the wringer with these two! She got there in the end and you will faster as he is a baby. We will all help you to cope, Madison won''t be able to resist him for long, it is very normal for her nose to be out of joint right now

It hasn''t been long for Achio either, only 5 weeks by my reckoning, she has done incredibly well!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/6/2005 10:04:23 PM
Author: Rascal49


All I know is that I am now a much more active participant in my cat's healthcare than I used to be, probably to the dislike of Rascal's vets.

Interesting, I wonder what many vets do think? I have had the same vet for 15 years for both the horses and the cats. My vet knows that I went to college for 2 years for animal tech training and have more medical knowledge than the average owner and he works with me on that and is always interested to hear my views and opinions where appropriate. However he knows I feel he is the professional and I may query certain things, but I do listen to what he says and trust him. This is a good relationship for both of us and we work together for the good of my animals, I wonder however if many vets might feel that a little knowledge isn't a good thing? Depends on vet and client I guess but I prefer to be as well informed as possible - if I understand the problem with a pet, being the main caregiver I have a far better chance of doing my part towards a successful outcome. I know I never know better than my vet where professional advice is concerned, but he knows I definitely know the animal in question better and he respects that and we can work as a team. I think active participation in a pet's healthcare has to be a good thing.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Okay everyone...I followed BB around all last night trying to get the poor girl to pose for you (at least her butt!)...needless to say she fell victim to me and my new camera...I''m still learning how to use it, so the photos may not be the best, but I got the infamous pictures for all of you!!!!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Pic #2 - Front shot of the princess!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Pic #3 BB eating...

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Pic #4...I love this one!!! She was starting to walk away from her food bowl when I got this shot!!! Such a cutie!!

 

[Lorelei]

Oh my word she is gorgeous

She looks great Achio, well done! I love that dear little butt and she looks like she has frilly britches too

I love cat pants, maybe that''s why I have so many Persians

I think she is a " stumpy" apparently the breed type in the Isle of Man are known as " rumpies" with no tail or " stumpies" with a short one. She is adorable and looks like such a little princess as she is! I bet Smokeyokes is in LOVE

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Actually Lorelei....she doesn''t have any stump...no vertebre anywhere past her back! That "stump" you''re seeing is a fluff of fur...nothing more!! Even the vet was surprised that she didn''t have more there!!! So I guess she''s a "rumpie."

But she is a cutie...as long as Smokey isn''t trapping her in the litterbox!!!

 

[ecf8503]

Date: 11/8/2005 6:58:03 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 11/6/2005 10:04:23 PM

Author: Rascal49



All I know is that I am now a much more active participant in my cat''s healthcare than I used to be, probably to the dislike of Rascal''s vets.

Interesting, I wonder what many vets do think? I have had the same vet for 15 years for both the horses and the cats. My vet knows that I went to college for 2 years for animal tech training and have more medical knowledge than the average owner and he works with me on that and is always interested to hear my views and opinions where appropriate. However he knows I feel he is the professional and I may query certain things, but I do listen to what he says and trust him. This is a good relationship for both of us and we work together for the good of my animals, I wonder however if many vets might feel that a little knowledge isn''t a good thing? Depends on vet and client I guess but I prefer to be as well informed as possible - if I understand the problem with a pet, being the main caregiver I have a far better chance of doing my part towards a successful outcome. I know I never know better than my vet where professional advice is concerned, but he knows I definitely know the animal in question better and he respects that and we can work as a team. I think active participation in a pet''s healthcare has to be a good thing.

Hi all! Sorry to be weighing in on this thread so late, but Lorelei asked if I could give a veterinarian''s opinion on the vaccine / sarcoma association.

First off, I''d like to say that Rascal and Lorelei have provided some very accurate, informative, and helpful information so far. Thanks!

I think all of us love our pets dearly and want the best for them, as do I, both from a doctor and mommy point of view. So I''ll try to give an overview of things:

A little immunology lesson, first: Your body can fight off diseases much more efficiently once it has seen it before - it forms a "memory" in the form of antibodies. When you are exposed to something either naturally or in the form of a vaccine, you are "showing" it to your immune system. Then the next time it sees it, it will "remember" it and be able to mount a swifter defense.

Vaccines do this - "expose" our bodies to the offender (called an antigen - could be a virus or bacteria or fungus, etc). Your body''s antibodies fight off the invading antigens. At young ages (kittens), if the kitten has nursed from the mother successfully at birth, then he / she took in some natural immunity from the mother''s early milk (the colostrum). But these antibodies are "borrowed" from mom - and they only last about 6-12 weeks, then disappear. That''s where vaccines come in - we need to create antibodies of their own.

Vaccines are given as a series as kittens and puppies for a few combined reasons. First, if the mother''s immunity in the kitten is still present, then when you give a vaccine, the mother''s antibodies think the vaccine is the Real Deal and destroys it - made the vaccine useless. BUT - we don''t know how well the kitten nursed, how strong the mother''s immunity was, etc - and the time frame as to when the mother''s immunity starts to wear off varies.

Next, we need to "teach" the kitten''s body to recognize a potential threat / disease. And repetition is key here. The first time is like showing it a flashcard that says "2+2 = 4". Okay... it may stick, but will most likely be "forgotten". But if you show it again - the body says "Oh - yeah - I kind of remember that". And the 3rd time is an "OK - I get it! I''ll remember it!". Make sense so far?

OK now to a vaccine lesson: There are basically 2 kinds of vaccines available - Killed and Modified Live. A Killed vaccine is just that - it is dead. Rabies vaccines are a good example of this, as well as older Feline Leukemia vaccines. The virus is dead. Can''t cause disease. BUT - also can''t initiate an immune system response. So chemicals are added called adjuvants that help the body recognize the dead virus (still can''t cause disease). It is these chemicals - the adjuvants - that the researchers are thinking may be linked to the formation of sarcomas (a cancer of a type of cell) at injection sites.

There is a lot of speculation that there is a cause and effect relationship between the site of vaccination and the formation of malignancies in those same sites. But no one has PROVEN it yet. And yes the link between vaccine needle size and tumors has been called into speculation as well - again still no concrete evidence. (Also the incidence of tumors at vaccine sites is very low - 1 in 1,000 by current evaluations as I recall)

The other kind of vaccine is a modified live vaccine. The virus itself is still alive, which your body reacts to more strongly, but it cannot cause disease. The virus is changed so that it looks the same on the outside, but on the inside it is a non-functional mess. Can''t cause disease. Think of it like a chocolate coated ice cream bar - you might like the one with the vanilla ice cream inside, but from the outside it looks just like the ones with the chocolate ice cream inside, and if side by side, you couldn''t tell the difference just by looking, right? Same thing - it LOOKS like a disease causing virus to the body, but inside it isn''t anything.

Rabies and Feline Leukemia in the past were only available as killed vaccines that were highly associated with the formation of sarcomas. The Distemper combo is a modified live, and has NOT been associated with the formation of tumors.

In recent years, there have been numerous advances in vaccinations for cats. And as we all know, they are NOT little dogs! There is a cat-specific modified live Rabies vaccine now - no chemical adjuvant, so assumed to be safer. Same with Feline Leukemia. The problem is that not every vet uses these vaccines - especially those in multi-species practices (i.e. they see dogs, ferrets, etc too). It is expensive to buy, store, and track different vaccines for different species. There simply isn''t enough room in the refrigerator for them all. Many practices are highly dog-oriented, especially in terms of cash flow.

If you think about a cat''s anatomy, they have a nice loose area of skin right on top of their shoulders - perfect for giving shots from a "hey isn''t that convenient" standpoint. And for years, before we knew about the sarcoma risks, vaccines were routinely given here. As well as other medications that needed to be injected. It also seems that the skin here is a little thicker and not as sensitive as in other parts of the body. So theoretically the cats didn''t feel it as much.

Then we started to see these highly invasive sarcomas here in the same location. The tumors have very long octopus-like "fingers" of cells that tunnel through muscle planes, making complete excision very difficult. And as was pointed out before, this is a REALLY bad location for an invasive malignancy - not a lot of room before it eats into your spinal column, then into the chast cavity (and that is VERY BAD).

A few years ago the AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) recommended changing the sites of vaccination so we can keep better track of what vaccines might be guilty. So now the recommendation is to give the (likely) innocent Distemper combo in the scruff of the neck. The Rabies on the outside of the right rear leg as far down the leg as you can get it, and Feline Leukemia on the left rear leg, also as far away from the body as possible.

Rabies on the Right
Leukemia on the Left

Most vaccines are given under the skin (called Subcutaneous injections) not in the muscle itself. If a vaccine is injected into muscle, it''s ok, but will hurt more. (There are a few vaccines out there that DO go into muscle, but not the cat ones in question). The lot number of the vaccine should be recorded in the animal''s chart for future reference, especially if something goes wrong (i.e. a tumor forms).

That all said, lumps at vaccination sites in the weeks to month following are normal. The body thinks it has just received a massive shipment of (rabies, for example) in one spot. So it sends in antibodies (the soldiers) to fight it off. The antibodies call in helpers (white blood cells of various types) to help in the fight. It gets pretty crowded in there, and with all the fighting going on, it''s no wonder it hurts and gets swollen sometimes.

I will say however though, that the cats that form lumps at injection sites routinely (vaccines or not) are the ones I watch very closely over the years. One of my cats is that way - every injection I give her, no matter what it is, makes a big firm lump. This is just my opinion, but it seems to me that if the immune system is already that hypersensitive, it may be more likely to mutate into cancer at the injection site. So I try not to stick her unless I absolutely have to. Her body already likes to make bumps - why feed the hunger (so to speak)?

Now, the local bump formation is different than the body''s systemic reaction to vaccines. And some people and some animals are more sensitive here as well. When a vaccine is given, the body sees what it THINKS is an illness, and tries to fight it off just as if it was the real thing. Sometimes a fever will ensue, but usually, just a day or so of laying around like a lump. That''s normal (not fun, but normal). If your cat is one of these, ask for a steroid such as Prednisolone tablets you can take home to have on hand if your cat is too punky.

This malaise is different from a true vaccine reaction - that is an allergy, and manifests differently. A true allergic reaction usually involves some of these symptoms: vomiting, swollen face, pawing at face, difficulty breathing, intense itching, and if they had no fur you''d be able to see hives or a rash sometimes. Vomiting is the most common, and usually happens within the hour of vaccination (most people don''t even get home). This can be treated with (and in the future prevented with) injections of steroids and / or anti-histamines.

As a general rule, yes, vaccines are necessary, even if they are completely indoors, especially early in life. The kitten series of vaccines should be done (Distemper combo, rabies, and a Feline Leukemia series, even if they never go out). Then as the years go by, you can tailor the vaccines to your cat''s needs. Laws should be followed, but I do not believe over-vaccination is the right answer either.

As for the person above who said their vet won''t treat their cat unless it is current on all it''s vaccines - well, that''s a red flag to me. There are situations where I believe that vaccines aren''t necessary or may even be risky. Veterinarians are by oath to "first, do no harm".

As a kitten, make sure they test negative for Feline Leukemia, and are tested again at 6 months of age for Feline Leukemia again as well as FIV. FeLV can stay undetectable in the body for months, as a latent infection. The first test may be negative, but may test positive later (very rare). FeLV can be transmitted from the mother to the kittens before birth, which is why we test kittens so young for it.

All cats regardless of age, should have as an initial vaccine protocol in every practice I''ve been in: 1) at least 2 doses of Distemper combo 3 weeks apart, FeLV at least twice 3 weeks apart, and a Rabies vaccine. Even if they don''t and won''t ever go out.

FeLV can be transmitted by airborn particles and bodily fluids - so for an example, a sick stray may come to your door and sneeze on your screen, then your totally indoor cat comes over and smells / licks it, and voila! Felie Leukemia. Any immunity is better than none in this case, so they should get FeLV as youngsters, in my opinion.

Rabies is tricky - there are local laws and Federal vaccine licensing issues. The FDA may give a 1 year license to a certain Rabies vaccines for cats (meaning it should be given once a year until the FDA determines the immunity lasts longer). Yous city may not require it at all. Some require it every 3 years, etc.

That said, one of the Rabies vaccines that HAS been associated with tumors is a killed vaccine that is licensed for both cats and dogs - and has a 3 year license from the FDA. There are lots of vets out there that still use this vaccine in cats for this very reason - saves shelf space.

An every 3 year vaccine sounds better in theory, but it is more highly associated with tumor formation. The 1 year cat specific one is less likely to cause tumors, but has to be given more often. Hmm.

Vaccines are something that not everyone in a position of authority knows anything about (or they know enough to be misinformed and dangerous - kind of like us in a "maul" jewelry store, right???). And that is troublesome. For instance, some boarding facilites do require Distemper, FeLV, Rabies for cats to board - and although you and your vet may have decided that this was not necessary, they will not allow boarding without it. Sad situation, really. BUT - these people also have to be careful legally and "cover their butts".

Please discuss things with your own vets. If they as doctors are really interested in your cat''s welfare, they''ll listen, and be receptive to your thoughts and ideas. If you don''t feel like it is a very compassionate relationship then perhaps it is time to find another doctor. Don''t stay with a vet out of some sense of "loyalty". When I was growing up, my mother did just that - and after I got into vet school I was APPALLED at what I saw, and forbade her to ever take my dogs back there ever again!

There are a lot of wonderful vets out there, and some not-so-compassionate (or knowledgeable) ones. You need to decide what is right for you and your pets, and if you are at ALL unhappy or uncomfortable with the way your animal is treated, then go somewhere else. Some doctors welcome the discussions with owners - some do not.

OK this is WAAAAAAAAAAAY longer than I intended it to be, so I''ll stop now. But if there is anything I''ve overlooked or didn''t explain clearly enough, please let me know!!!

Oh - BTW, just from one cat-loving, diamond-nut to another(s) - I love this place!

Christine (D.V.M.)

P.S. Here''s a pic of 2 of mine I took the other day (Libby- the black and white one - she''s the one that gets lumps; and Murphy - he''s actually in kidney failure.

)

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Christine...thanks so much for all that clarification and information...it''s good to know as far as when we communicate with our own vets and to educate ourselves on how to take the best care for our cats!!!

I love

your two beauties!!! I''m so sorry to hear that Murphy is in kidney failure

. What can you do for him????

 

[AndyRosse]

Oh Christine, thank you very much for the detailed post!!

I was the one who said our vet would not treat cats without current vaccinations. They require current rabies vaccinations only (since rabies vaccinations are required in CT at my last check).

And wow, your kitties are just so adorable!!!

I''m sooo sorry about Murphy!

Like AChiOAlumna said, is there anything you can do?