Rabies Booster for Adult Cat or I Can't Get His Dental Done

[RobinO]

My 6-yr old cat, Dood is on Prozac due to aggression issues. To get his 'script refilled I had to bring him to my allopathic vet for a check up and updated blood work (last was done 4/17). They found that he has a hole in a tooth and it needs to be removed, but his last Rabies booster was (Merial 1 yr) in 4/2017. That's barely a year ago. They want to booster him or NO getting the dental done.

OR I offered to have a titer done and was told "Ok but it's a lot more $$ than doing the booster and..blah blah blah...25 years never saw problems" Which I replied that maybe there are problems you can't directly relate to the vaccination (like behavior issues) AND my cat has AGGRESSION issues already. I do not want to risk pushing that. He agreed to the titer, but I asked him how long it would be good for. Would he accept the results for a year? More? He would not say. It would at least cover allowing my cat to have a dental done.

He also added he would send a request for permission not to boost him from the State Vet, but added it was unlikely it would be approved. Of course he went on about how he can't put his staff at risk..etc. And of course I said I would never want that either. So...now I don't know what to do.

This comes up all the time with vaccinations, esp FVRCP boosters. They know not to even ask me about them unless it's for a rescue-kitten, but they have no problem making me feel badly that I'm not updating the vax.

Yes, I know..get another vet. :-( What else can I do?

Robin

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hi Robin-

What can you do?

Educate him the best that he will allow or (as you said) find a new vet.

Unfortunately the rabies issue is not negotiable for some. By law.

In general your best defense against potential ill effects from it are to optimize your kitties Vitality and Balance prior to vaccination, ask for a thimerosal (and mercury) free 3 year vaccine.

It's even great that he is accepting the titer result for your kitty to come in for the dental.

Perhaps other associate vets in his practice would be more open-minded.

When it comes to any other vaccines however, it is 100% up to you whether you do any or not.

Either you will need to live with this vet's eye rolls and resistance, or yes, find a more open-minded vet.

Remember, you are the captain of your vet care team.

Dr. Jeff

 

 

[Dana]

Which rabies vaccines are

Thimerosal free????​

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hey Dana-

There definitely is a TF-free one from Merial and maybe one from Ft. Dodge.

Another Dana writes about them here:

Thimerosal In Rabies Vaccines - Dogs Naturally

Thimerosal in rabies vaccines? That's a mercury-based ingredient ... A few companies are making thimerosal-free rabies vaccines, is your vet using it?

www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com