Vaccinations safe ?

[Steph28]

Can diabetic cats be safely vaccinated? My vet wants to do rabies shots in the near future (wanted to wait until they were in better health with symptoms and all that of course) due to state laws and clinic policies but I remember a dog grooming client of mine from a couple years ago who had the vet waiver from all vaccines due to the pet being diabetic. Getting mixed reviews when I search online about it. Do you guys still vaccine your cats and has anyone had any issues with it? Thanks.

 

[Squalliesmom]

I still get Squallie vaccinated for rabies. That's the only one I do. Even though he is strictly an indoor cat, I have had him slip out before, and rabies is fairly prevalent where we live. The same applies to all my cats.

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

Jones' IM vet indicated for Jones (who does have IBD as well) due to being an indoor cat that his risk is low and does not recommended any vaccination except for the rabies one. His statement was that he could not not recommended getting the rabies vaccination as a vet. He suggested the 3 year one. Rabies is not a common thing here but instances are rising.

 

[StephG]

My vet let me skip vaccines on both my cats, only one is diabetic. She said after 10/11 years old they don't need them if they're indoor.
You have the option to get a blood titer done to test for antibodies to the diseases (I think that's what she said) I think they can do one for rabies too but my vet still requires rabies and uses the 3 year vaccine.

 

[Steph28]

Thanks yeah I have no idea if that client personally pushed for getting the waiver or if her vet thought it was a bad idea to vaccinate. I dont know what risks it would be causing. It's one of the things that have been running through my head about all this and I don't want a bad relationship with yet another vet unnecessarily and make myself look like a crazy person but again I have heard mixed things about it and don't want risk it if it's a known problem. We have indoor only cats with no random escapes ever and honestly the only vaccines they get are when they are kittens or if we have to go to the vet for an issue and they make us do it. So now that regular vet visits will be a thing most vets around here require them, or at least the rabies shot to conform with state laws. I have no personaly issue getting the shot (shots) if it's not generally going to cause a health issue and she says we have to do it.

 

[Squalliesmom]

I am unaware of any contraindications of rabies vacs in a cat with diabetes, any more so than in a healthy cat, except potentially a cat who, because of lack of regulation, is not in stable enough health for any vaccines. The only other concern that I am aware of is injection site sarcoma (same risk as healthy cat) and this does not concern me enough to not vaccinate my guys. Lots of "nots" there but you know what I mean, lol.

 

[JeffJ]

I live in Austin in the city limits. If we take our kittehs to a vet, it is required. So all 3 get vaccinated.

Rabies - yeah I get it for the outside cats. But for inside cats, Texas - give me a break. Cats can't get rabies from the atmosphere or looking out the window.

 

[Smokey and Jessica]

My cat has all his vaccines. Actually over the years he’s even had some extra redone after he was microchipped so he could leave the country. They never seem to bother him or cause any issue. Even having more than normal.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

The only other concern that I am aware of is injection site sarcoma (same risk as healthy cat)

To avoid that only use Merial's PureVax rabies vaccine. It is the only one one that does not use an adjuvante. The adjuvante is thought to cause the injection site sarcomas. About four years ago Merial final got approval for their three-year PureVax rabies vaccine. Previously only the one-year one was approved.