Ok, here is his answer about VAS. I was freaking out because there is so much out of date, scary stuff on the Internet.
"The term Vaccine Associated Sarcomas has fallen out of favor and now termed Injection Site Sarcoma because they now believe that it is not the vaccine, but the actual injection of a foreign substance. I use the Purevax for distemper vaccine. Sarcomas are difficult to completely remove if found in the scruff because of the different layers of tissue and extensions that the tumor extends between the layers. First time surgery (extremely invasive) is the best chance if sarcoma is diagnosed. We vaccinate in the leg so that if a sarcoma is diagnosed, then amputation may be performed if needed. I have not seen a fibrosarcoma that I thought was associated with a vaccine. But it is a possibility with any injection." On 6/21/07, Kelley Saveika <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
OH yes, my vet does offer the 3 year rabies vaccine, but state law says if the owner brings the cat in a day late, he's not allowed to give it. So if I have a cat due 4/1 and I bring the cat in 4/2 the cat can't ahve the vaccine, he has to have the one year one. On 6/21/07, Kelley Saveika <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > "Inconsequential" was probably a bad word to use, and I am sorry. I > am sorry for those of you who have lost cats to this disease (or to > anything else). > > I have a kitty with a heart murmur and I do not vaccinate her against > anything. That's not because of the risk of cancer, though, it is > because of the risk of heart attack. > > The chances of a cat contracting FELV are, in my opinion, a lot higher > than contracting cancer from the vaccine. My vet has never seen a > case, and there is now debate over whether the cancer is from the > ingredients of the vaccine or from the injection itself. I'll dig up > the email he sent me and post it. > > On 6/21/07, elizabeth trent <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I lost my Felicity to vaccine-related fibro sarcoma > > http://www.trentdesigns.com/elizabeth/felicity.html > > > > They've changed the vaccine now, however...there is less risk. There is > > still risk, however. > > > > I can tell you though that with an aggressive fibro sarcoma, amputating the > > paw can prolong the life but it cannot save it. Felicity had her leg > > amputated. A very sad and heart-wrenching story. The survival rate even > > for humans with this type of cancer is abysmal. > > > > I'm glad to hear there is on-going research. > > > > It's a difficult call. Some vaccines are formulated to be given every three > > years. Others are formulated for every year. Many say you don't want to > > give a vaccine yearly formulated vaccine every 3 years. There have also > > been tests that indicate the three year vaccines are less effective. I'm > > told that currently the best way to ensure you aren't over vaccinating is > > to have blood work done for titers...but you could still end up paying for > > that test and still have to pay for the vaccine too. > > > > My vet doesn't like to vaccinate immuno-compromised or geriatric cats. I > > confess that I am very shell-shocked from my experience with Felicity...and > > I do not have my cats vaccinated every year. It might make more sense to > > have them vaccinated more often if they were outdoor types. I really think > > that if we still had FeVL+ babies living with us, I would have them > > vaccinated more often. > > > > I've lost babies to the vaccine - and I've lost a baby to FeVL+. Both are > > heart-wrenching. > > > > elizabeth > > > > > > On 6/21/07, Jane Lyons <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > The risk of vaccination and sarcoma is not inconsequential. > > > Many veterinarians have altered their vaccination protocols to > > > every three years because recent studies that have indicated we are > > > over vaccinating our animals. In many instances one vaccination > > > can protect an animal for its lifetime, and revaccination and boosters > > > are driven by the economics of a practice and pharmaceutical companies. > > > > > > Dr Jean Dodds DVM and Ronald Schultz DVM are now conducting the 'Rabies > > > Challenge" > > > research, which is an effort to prove that one rabies vaccination is > > > sufficient for > > > the lifetime of an animal. > > > > > > I did not intend to get into a vaccination discussion, other than to > > > say it is prudent to > > > research the type and frequency of vaccinations. There are many > > > practices that now > > > inoculate cats just above the paw, so that in the event of a sarcoma, > > > the paw can be amputated > > > and the animals life saved. > > > > > > Jane > > > > > > > > > > > > On Jun 21, 2007, at 10:49 AM, Melissa Lind wrote: > > > > > > > I had heard that on the radio or something--about not needing > > > > vaccinations > > > > every year. If I don't have to put them through the stress...I think > > > > I'll > > > > approach my new vet about the distemper. I guess my reasoning for not > > > > vaccinating the youngest is simply because she doesn't ever go > > > > outside. She > > > > doesn't even sneak out, or try to sneak out. The chances of her > > > > getting FeLV > > > > from contact through the screen patio door are so slim, that I just > > > > would > > > > rather not. But, if I ran a rescue where I had cats coming and going > > > > all the > > > > time, I definitely would vaccinate--more risk involved. > > > > > > > > Melissa > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > > Of Kelley > > > > Saveika > > > > Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:32 AM > > > > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > > > Subject: Re: The best food for Duncan?? > > > > > > > > I think that the risk of vaccination and sarcomas is so low as to be > > > > inconsequential. I think it is really important that all cats be > > > > vaccinated against FELV in the first year, and my vet agrees, so > > > > that's what my rescue does, even though it adds to our cost. > > > > > > > > It is a personal decision though, like everything else. I'm certainly > > > > not trying to tell other folks what to do. > > > > > > > > I did see that the latest AAFP vaccination guidelines recommend going > > > > to once every 3 years against distemper... > > > > > > > > On 6/21/07, Melissa Lind < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> I agree that the majority of the people here mix, but I never would. > > > >> This > > > > is > > > >> probably because I'm a newbie to this and a doubting-Thomas of sorts, > > > >> but > > > > I > > > >> just can't bring myself to expose my youngest (less than one year) > > > >> since > > > > she > > > >> would be most susceptible, and I've opted not to vaccinate her against > > > > FeLV > > > >> because of the risk associated with vaccination and sarcomas. I don't > > > >> have > > > >> any FeLV cats now, but when I did, I kept him in one room until I was > > > >> able > > > >> to find him a home. It was a lonely life for the poor guy, but I > > > >> spent a > > > > lot > > > >> of time with him. If I had to do it long-term, I'd set up an area for > > > >> several FeLV cats so they could have companionship. That's my plan > > > >> for the > > > >> future. > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> But, I'll have to say that most people here know a lot more about this > > > > than > > > >> I do-but that's just my own personal choice so far. > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> Melissa > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> ________________________________ > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > > Of > > > >> catatonya > > > >> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 2:57 AM > > > >> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > > >> Subject: Re: The best food for Duncan?? > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> I was just there yesterday! I live in Woodstock, but we have a place > > > >> on > > > >> Lake Buckhorn. > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> I would say the majority of the people on this list mix their > > > >> positive and > > > >> negative cats as long as they are adults and have been vaccinated. I > > > >> have > > > >> done this over 10 years with no problems. > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> I can't tell you dosages, because I don't give DD anything special > > > >> except > > > >> 'good' food. (Whatever that may be these days) Royal Canin. > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> tonya > > > >> > > > >> Laura Mostello < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> Hi, > > > >> Jane suggested that I ask the list for food > > > >> recommendations for Duncan. What would you all > > > >> suggest? She also mentioned some supplements, like > > > >> lysine and maitake. I know that these are readily > > > >> available at health food stores, but I'd like to know > > > >> about the dosage amount and frequency. Right now > > > >> Duncan's appetite is excellent, and I'd like to keep > > > >> it that way. > > > >> He isn't my only cat, by the way. There are 8 others! > > > >> All were saved from the euthanasia list at work. > > > >> Duncan lives separately, in my tortoise room. This is > > > >> probably a really stupid question, but I'll ask it > > > >> anyway. I understand that FeLV is primarily > > > >> transmitted through saliva, and that very casual > > > >> contact between cats is probably not enough to cause > > > >> infection. Are there other modes of transmission that > > > >> I should worry about? If he's walking around in the > > > >> tortoise room, should I be concerned that I'm bringing > > > >> the virus into other areas of my house on my shoes? > > > >> I'm being really, really fussy in order to prevent > > > >> cross-contamination, but perhaps I don't need to > > > >> nitpick quite so much. > > > >> Oh, Tonya, I live in Villa Rica, in Carroll county. > > > >> Where are you located? > > > >> Laura > > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time. > > > > > > > > http://www.rescuties.org > > > > > > > > Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! > > > > > > > > http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 > > > > > > > > Please help Caroline! > > > > > > > > http://rescuties.chipin.com/caroline > > > > > > > > I GoodSearch for Rescuties. > > > > > > > > Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the > > > > Internet with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time. > > http://www.rescuties.org > > Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! > > http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 > > Please help Caroline! > > http://rescuties.chipin.com/caroline > > I GoodSearch for Rescuties. > > Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the > Internet with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo! > -- Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time. http://www.rescuties.org Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 Please help Caroline! http://rescuties.chipin.com/caroline I GoodSearch for Rescuties. Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo!
-- Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time. http://www.rescuties.org Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 Please help Caroline! http://rescuties.chipin.com/caroline I GoodSearch for Rescuties. Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo!
