Page 3276 - Cote clinical veterinary advisor dogs and cats 4th

Consent to Administer Vaccinations, Feline

VetBooks.ir Patient name:_________________________________
Cat owner’s name:_____________________________ Med rec #____________
Best contact during/after procedure (e.g., cell phone number):____________________

INTRODUCTION also interferes with the ability to respond to vaccinations. Protective
We want to make sure that you understand the planned medical antibodies provided by the mother can wear off as early as 6 weeks
procedure to be performed on your pet. You should know why the of age or late as 14 weeks but it usually wears off around 9-12
procedure has been suggested, what the potential benefits are for weeks of age. Since we can’t predict when the maternal protection
your pet, and the most common/important risks of the procedure. will wear off in a specific kitten, we start the vaccinations at the
Alternatives to this procedure, when applicable, will be discussed young end of the range (≈6 weeks) and continue until past the old
with you. It is also important that you recognize that medicine is end of the range (≈16 weeks).
not an exact science, and that the outcome cannot be guaranteed. Adult cats that receive a new vaccine for the first time may also
We encourage you to ask us as many questions as required for require a booster 2-3 weeks later. In this scenario, the first dose
you to make a well-informed decision. of the vaccine introduces the inactivated infectious organism to
the cat’s immune system, and the second dose allows the cat to
BENEFITS/OPTIMAL OUTCOME OF THE PROCEDURE become protected.
Vaccines are injections that help protect cats from certain infectious Regardless of whether the vaccine is given first to a kitten or to
diseases. Perhaps no medical or scientific discovery has ever done an adult, most vaccines require a booster one year after the first
more to protect the health of pets and people than have vaccinations. vaccines are given. After that, boosters might be required every
Vaccines are available to protect from some, but not all, infections. year or every third year, depending on the type of vaccine.
Vaccines are often described as “core” or “non-core”. Core vaccines
are those that a panel of experts has agreed should be given to USE OF SEDATIVES OR ANESTHESIA
essentially every single cat unless there is a very good reason not Sedation and/or anesthesia is not necessary for the administration
to do so. This includes rabies vaccination, which is not only just of vaccinations unless the cat is extremely difficult to handle.
a good idea, but is usually required by local laws. On the other
hand, non-core vaccines are considered optional vaccines. These FORESEEABLE RISKS TO THE PROCEDURE
optional vaccines are administered if it seems likely that that the Vaccination is very safe (< 1% of vaccinated cats have any complica-
vaccination will be useful to help protect that particular cat. The tion), but as with any medical procedure there are risks.
decision of when to use optional vaccines depends on a number • The most common adverse vaccine reactions are mild (decreased
of factors, including the age and lifestyle of the cat (for instance, appetite, pain at the injection site, decreased energy levels, and
is it an indoor or outdoor cat?). a mild fever). These reactions typically last only 2-3 days and
resolve without additional treatment. If these signs continue past
EXPLANATION OF THE PROCEDURE 2-3 days, you should contact a veterinarian. Please note, lack
The process of vaccination is simple and straightforward but must of reaction to one vaccine does NOT predict whether your cat
be done correctly every step of the way. The vaccine itself must be may have a reaction to future vaccines.
kept at just the right temperature at all times and must be mixed • Some modified live vaccines can occasionally result in very
correctly immediately before use. There may be no guarantee that mild clinical signs (“symptoms”) similar to those caused by the
vaccine purchased from a feed store or off the Internet has been infection they are meant to protect against. For example, cats
handled with the care required. For many commonly used vaccines, can develop very mild runny nose or eyes, sneezing, or cough
one injection can protect from many diseases. This is achieved after vaccinations that protect against respiratory infections.
through the use of vaccines with multiple different antigens in the • Very rarely, serious allergic reactions occur soon after vaccination
same vial. (anaphylaxis). Signs of a serious reaction can include vomiting,
After an examination shows that your cat is healthy enough to diarrhea, seizures, facial swelling, collapse, and trouble breathing.
receive a vaccination, the vaccine will be mixed together. Most Although uncommon, these reactions can be life-threatening.
vaccines are administered by quickly injecting a small volume of Contact us immediately if you notice any of these signs.
fluid just under the skin. This fluid contains a version of an infectious • Less common mild reactions include infection, hair loss, or change
organism (germ) that has been altered in such a way that it won’t in hair color at the injection site.
cause illness. Instead, the organism will “teach” the cat’s protective • There is some controversy as to the risk of serious adverse
immune system what to look out for and prepare it to fight off a immune reactions after vaccination. In general, cats are far
similar organism if it is encountered at some future date. less likely to develop immune-mediated diseases (regardless
Often, vaccines require “boosters,” or additional doses, to achieve of vaccination) than are dogs or other species.
maximal effectivity. Kittens receive their first vaccines at about 6 • There is a small risk that the vaccine will not prevent infection.
weeks of age, and then receive boosters every 3-4 weeks until they • One of the more serious concerns regarding vaccinations in
are about 16 weeks of age. In addition to simply working better with cats is the possibility of a cancer occurring at the site of injec-
a booster, the reason for this series of repeated injections is that tion months to years later. Such injection site sarcomas are
kittens are born with protection from infectious diseases from their exceedingly rare; estimates are that for every 10,000 doses of
mothers. Unfortunately, this maternal protection not only helps keep vaccine administered, less than one cat will develop a tumor.
the kitten from becoming ill in the first several weeks of life, but it To minimize the damage that might result from the need to

From Cohn and Côté: Clinical Veterinary Advisor, 4th edition. Copyright © 2020 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.