Hi Terrie,
I am so sorry for all that you and Dukee are going through. I searched "vaccine" in the archives of the yahoo FIP list, below are some excerpts that may help you in your decision on vaccinating the others. It has been a little while ago for us, so can't recall all of our reasoning on it at the time, but we chose not to vaccinate ours after losing Ally. I think part of it was that we figured they had all been exposed anyway, although ultimately only Ally ended up with a positive titer at 1:100. The others may have been very low positive, Idexx labs only tested down to a 1:100 dilution. As I understand it, Cornell is the only place to test all the way to zero, giving a definite FCoV negative.
I am picturing Dukee getting much stronger with the feeding tube, it seems to have helped so many others here.
Take care,
Beth
This info is published on the Cornell University of Veterinary
Medicine website:
see http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resources/brochure/fip.html
In multiple cat environments, keeping cats as healthy as possible and
minimizing exposure to infectious agents lessens the likelihood of
cats' developing FIP. Preventing overcrowding, keeping cats current
on vaccinations, providing proper nutrition and adequate sanitation,
and eliminating feline leukemia virus infections can be helpful in
reducing the incidence of FIP groups of cats.
The first FIP vaccine (Primucell FIP by Pfizer Animal Health) was
introduced in 1991. It is a temperature- sensitive, modified-live
vaccine. The vaccine is licensed for intranasal vaccination of cats
at 16 weeks of age, with boosters in 3 to 4 weeks, and then yearly.
Once a cat is vaccinated, its serum may have a positive coronavirus
antibody titer. This could be a problem for cattery owners who use
serologic testing to maintain a coronavirus-free population.
The vaccine appears to be safe, but various studies have yielded
different estimates of vaccine efficacy. The role that Primucell FIP
will ultimately play in protecting cats from FIP is not yet known;
for the time being, discussions with your veterinarian should help
you decide if your cat should be vaccinated.
Medicine website:
see http://www.vet.
In multiple cat environments, keeping cats as healthy as possible and
minimizing exposure to infectious agents lessens the likelihood of
cats' developing FIP. Preventing overcrowding, keeping cats current
on vaccinations, providing proper nutrition and adequate sanitation,
and eliminating feline leukemia virus infections can be helpful in
reducing the incidence of FIP groups of cats.
The first FIP vaccine (Primucell FIP by Pfizer Animal Health) was
introduced in 1991. It is a temperature- sensitive, modified-live
vaccine. The vaccine is licensed for intranasal vaccination of cats
at 16 weeks of age, with boosters in 3 to 4 weeks, and then yearly.
Once a cat is vaccinated, its serum may have a positive coronavirus
antibody titer. This could be a problem for cattery owners who use
serologic testing to maintain a coronavirus-
The vaccine appears to be safe, but various studies have yielded
different estimates of vaccine efficacy. The role that Primucell FIP
will ultimately play in protecting cats from FIP is not yet known;
for the time being, discussions with your veterinarian should help
you decide if your cat should be vaccinated.
Dr. Addie
What is Primucell?
Primucell, made by Pfizer, is the only commercially available FIP
vaccine in the world. Primucell is a temperature-sensitive mutant
feline coronavirus which is instilled intra-nasally and gives rise to
local IgA immunity and cell-mediated immunity. Primucell prevents FIP
in 50-75% of cats who would have otherwise developed it, but is
ineffective in cats previously exposed to FCoV. Thus, in households
where FCoV is endemic (most cat breeder's households) Primucell has
to be used in kittens which have already undergone the special
management procedure known as early weaning and isolation, so that
they are FCoV free when vaccinated.
Primucell, made by Pfizer, is the only commercially available FIP
vaccine in the world. Primucell is a temperature-
feline coronavirus which is instilled intra-nasally and gives rise to
local IgA immunity and cell-mediated immunity. Primucell prevents FIP
in 50-75% of cats who would have otherwise developed it, but is
ineffective in cats previously exposed to FCoV. Thus, in households
where FCoV is endemic (most cat breeder's households) Primucell has
to be used in kittens which have already undergone the special
management procedure known as early weaning and isolation, so that
they are FCoV free when vaccinated.
