Accessing Solensia--questions?

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Gracie85

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Lamborghini is old and fading. The vets agreed with us, to just keep him comfortable and let nature do its thing; that medical investigations and interventions would just be cruel at this stage. He has thyroid, bladder, kidney, arthritis, stomach, possible liver, diseases, (and probably some things I am forgetting) is toothless, not-so-cognizant anymore, and a very strict diet keeps his blood sugar under control. He sleeps in his sunny window, his favorite cushion on the sofa, and gets fed at least 6 times a day. And he is very old and fading and slowly losing weight. But his life is still okay for him. We are hoping he goes to sleep forever all on his own.
BUT...He has been getting monthly Solensia shots, which really help. Only now the vet says we cannot get him another Solensia shot unless we get him vaccinated for rabies, as he is now 2 weeks overdue. They say it is state law.
Only, the last old cat we agreed to have vaccinated, immediately went downhill and died two weeks later.
There is so little of old Lamborghini left. I am afraid the vaccination will be too much for his system to handle, and he will lose his remaining time in the sunny window.
Is there a way to get Solensia on our own? Order from Canada or something? I am sure I can find someone who knows how to give him the shot if I can just get the Solensia.
I don't want to say goodbye to him before his time. Any ideas?
 
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I am in Canada, we don't have the same guidelines for rabies. What state are you in?

Can you see a different vet? Even if at the same practice? Some vets/states allow exemptions for certain conditions. Neko's vet wrote an exemption letter for her when we went to the US.
 
I'm in the US, in North Carolina. Rabies shot law says No Exemptions. Period.
It's so stupid. No way this cat, who sleeps in a sunny bay window 10 feet off the ground, will EVER get exposed to rabies; let alone live long enough for his now 16-day "expired" rabies shot to wear off (if after 18 years of rabies shots he doesn't still have immunity, then the whole vaccination thing is worthless).
I saw my 19+ year old cat go immediately downhill and die after her shots. Next, our old 17 year old looked like she was going to die right after shots, then recovered after a couple weeks, same thing the next year and the one after that, before we had to say goodbye to her because of tumors. Same thing with the next old cat. When they are that old and weak, their immune systems cannot handle the stress of vaccination. But instead of a day or two of feeling off like a younger cat, they just immediately go downhill and die quickly.
I know he is going to die soon. But I was hoping he'd just fade off while warm and sunny in his window bed. Not sick and awful from vaccines he does not have any need for, nor by the home vet we call because he's in too much pain to walk to his food and litter box anymore.
 
Now wondering if I can make a huge donation to a rescue and ask them to loan me a skinny old tiger cat to take for a rabies vaccine to get the certificate. I could go to a different vet and just say I don't like the current one.
 
Bummer about the NC rules. :( Have you talked to the vet about alternatives like Adequan or pain relief like buprenorphine? My girl had bad arthritis, and that was the days before Solensia. Best thing for her turned out to be acupuncture. Hyaluronic acid, MSM, Duralactin are other options for treating arthritis, and all don't need a vet to get them.
 
I too am sorry about what you’re up against. And I agree with you — no way would I vaccinate an elderly, frail, indoor cat who had been vaccinated regularly for years and who lived in a controlled environment. My IM vet (who was very experienced and based out of a vet school) discouraged vaccinating one of my elderly cats in similar circumstances as well as my elderly dog. So either NC is extraordinarily stringent in these matters or your vet is (and sometimes it really is the vet). :(

I too saw good results with acupuncture. The vet I went to used lasers, so no needles were needed. You might want to look into what is available in your area. The other options Wendy mentioned are also good. Adequan has a good track record and has been around quite awhile. Buprenorphine is great for pain, although it can have constipating and sedating effects, so keep that in mind (I used it with one of my cats and didn’t have any problems).

Another option (and I mention this only for your specific circumstances, given you’re looking at quality of life in the short time you have left), is low dose Metacam. It has a black box warning in the US but is used relatively effectively in Europe and other countries (it tends to be overdosed in the US, for some reason). I had a cat on it for arthritis and it helped quite a bit.

Sometimes we have to remember to have perspective—and it seems you certainly do. Please don’t get pushed into something you feel is risky. Hopefully you can find a vet who will continue the Solensia shots or offer you other options you’re comfortable with.
 
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I looked up the law myself, it's not just the vet being a stickler.
Any treatment that requires going into the office for an injection or other treatment is a no go--if the cat goes into the vet office, they HAVE to give him the vaccination in order to have him there and treat him. And I am sure they would require bloodwork to check his kidneys and liver before prescribing any of those drugs mentioned above, since they all carry risks, which is again just idiotic since the cat is old and failing all on his own already. They are a great office for healthcare of living pets, but sadly fall way short for dying ones (you would not believe the story I have to tell about my first dog and trying to get pain relief for the last days of his bone cancer.)
Started to look up home vets, hoping one might ignore the overdue rabies since the cat is in MY home, not a publicly accessed office, and come do the Solensia. Found the one that we had to use for our second dog's euthanasia has a Home Hospice service. So, since it's 11pm right now, I will call them in the morning and see what they can offer us.
I have been okay with his failing (sad, but okay, he's had a long, good life), but I am just heartsick that he may be robbed of his last days basking in his sunny window because of human stupidity. I am crying because I can't scream it out loud.
 
Here’s another thought if the home vet doesn’t work out.

Since he’s been seen within the past year (you had him in for a Solensia shot 1-3 months ago, correct?), perhaps you could ask about the other drugs while making the case that he’s failing and is basically a “hospice” case at this point, so you’re just hoping for palliative care. Since you can administer those meds (whereas you're not qualified to administer Solensia), could they fill a script for one of those drugs without a visit, just for his end of life comfort. It’s worth a try, maybe. Worst they can do is say no. And bloodwork/kidney values are really moot (or so you could argue) if you’re looking at final days/weeks/months. Quality vs quantity and so forth.

I’m sorry that you’re facing a goodbye … even more so that you’re facing drama along the way. :(:bighug:
 
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I like JL's second suggestion. I used to give Neko (and another cat) their Cartrophen injections. It's the Canadian equivalent to Adequan. Cat did not have to go into the office, just me to pick up the preloaded syringe. Since I was handling diabetes, they had no problem me giving the shots as it was also subq.

There are also acupuncture vets that do home visits, though I went to the vet's office for Neko's. She too just had mostly the small acupuncture laser and just a couple calming needles.
 
I’m in Texas and it’s the same rule here too. My vet doesn’t do the other vaccinations but has to do the rabies every year. Was wondering if a titer could be done where they check the level of the vaccine in the blood and if it’s high enough they don’t have to re-vaccinate? I’ve never done it because it can be expensive but may be an option. I hope the palliative vet has some suggestions too. ❤️
 
I was going to ask about doing a titer as well to check for immunity. My vet (we live in Georgia) does not force me to vaccinate my cats for anything. She will treat them regardless. They’ve all had their first couple years of FVRCP and rabies vaccinations so they are protected but I do not believe in over-vaccinating my cats (especially since the immunity is very long lasting with these vaccines.) Anyway, some vets here are butt heads and won’t treat them without current rabies vaccines. Some are not. When I had to take a cat to UGA for treatment, he definitely had to have a rabies vaccine (even though he’s FIV+). So I am still thinking that there may be a vet out there who will help you. Also, where in NC do you live? I mean, are you close enough to maybe find a vet in Virginia or South Carolina (or Tennessee?) who may be practical and compassionate and sensible enough to give your cat a Solensia injection? I give my cat Adequan for arthritis. We do intra-muscular injections at home.
 
Big hugs to you, by the way. It’s awful how you are having to go through all this to help your cat. My vet won’t vaccinate sick cats or frail cats either. I’m so sorry this is happening. I agree about how dangerous it can be for a frail elderly cat to have a rabies vaccine. Like you, I have seen it hurt my own cats who had concomitant diseases. I am proud of you for holding the line on this.
 
Here is NC law:
RABIES VACCINATION REQUIRED: Pursuant to G.S. 130A-185, every owner of a domestic dog, cat or ferret in North Carolina is required to have their animal currently vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and maintain the animal’s current rabies vaccination status throughout the animal’s entire lifetime. The owner should retain the original copy of the rabies vaccination certificate, provided by the legally authorized vaccinator as evidence of the animal’s current vaccination status. There are no legal waivers or exemptions, rabies vaccinations are required by law for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets in North Carolina.

Note the no exceptions.

Some states like Virginia allow an exception:
Vaccine exemption: The Code of Virginia § 3.2-6521 allows for an exemption to rabies vaccination requirements if the animal suffers from an underlying medical condition that is likely to result in a lifethreatening condition in response to vaccination and such exemption would not risk public health and safety. Exempting a dog or cat from a routine rabies vaccination schedule is a very serious decision and should always be made judiciously since forgoing vaccination has the potential to adversely affect both animal and human health. If approved, an exemption is valid for one year. An exemption can be used for obtaining a license for dogs (and, in some localities, a license for cats) in the Commonwealth, but CANNOT be used as a substitute for a current rabies certificate in response to a rabies exposure. More information about rabies exemptions, including the guidance document Rabies Vaccination Exemptions in Virginia: What Veterinarians Need to Know is available at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/animalcontact-human-health/rabies-control/.
 
So, could not find a vet office to do the Solensia without insisting on the rabies vaccine also. I even tried to bribe a couple to overlook the technicality of him being 2 weeks overdue. Nope, they are all incredibly honest, even tho the whole situation is ridiculous.
The home vet hospice place would do it, but they charge $650 PER VISIT to your home. ("Oh, but you get 24/7 access to a hospice nurse..." I don't need a hospice nurse, I know how to deal with old cats, I just need him to get his Solensia shot!)
Then I did find a mobile vet who will come and do it, without requiring the rabies shot, for about $100 for coming to my home and the $84 for the shot. She is scheduled to come on Thursday. Her mobile vet practice seems to be rather new, just a few months, so there really aren't any reviews up yet, but it's not like I have a choice, so here's hoping she's good and kind and competent.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
Here is NC law:
RABIES VACCINATION REQUIRED: Pursuant to G.S. 130A-185, every owner of a domestic dog, cat or ferret in North Carolina is required to have their animal currently vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and maintain the animal’s current rabies vaccination status throughout the animal’s entire lifetime. The owner should retain the original copy of the rabies vaccination certificate, provided by the legally authorized vaccinator as evidence of the animal’s current vaccination status. There are no legal waivers or exemptions, rabies vaccinations are required by law for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets in North Carolina.

Note the no exceptions.

Some states like Virginia allow an exception:
Vaccine exemption: The Code of Virginia § 3.2-6521 allows for an exemption to rabies vaccination requirements if the animal suffers from an underlying medical condition that is likely to result in a lifethreatening condition in response to vaccination and such exemption would not risk public health and safety. Exempting a dog or cat from a routine rabies vaccination schedule is a very serious decision and should always be made judiciously since forgoing vaccination has the potential to adversely affect both animal and human health. If approved, an exemption is valid for one year. An exemption can be used for obtaining a license for dogs (and, in some localities, a license for cats) in the Commonwealth, but CANNOT be used as a substitute for a current rabies certificate in response to a rabies exposure. More information about rabies exemptions, including the guidance document Rabies Vaccination Exemptions in Virginia: What Veterinarians Need to Know is available at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/animalcontact-human-health/rabies-control/.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, Virginia is a few hours away. We are near Charlotte, NC. But South Carolina is also about an hour away. And poor ol' Lamborghini gets so upset in the car in his carrier that he usually pees, sometimes poops, and gets his whole face and chest covered in thick drool. And that's just on the 3 mile drive to the local vet.
Fingers crossed that this new mobile vet is decent.
 
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