Feline Vaccines- what you really need to know

Compassionate, conscientious care extends to all we do. We take our cat’s health seriously, which is why we are bringing this subject to you today. We care only for the health and well being of our cats and kittens, and we want you to have all vaccine information possible so that you can make the most informed decisions for your cats and kittens possible.

You want to provide your cat the best possible health outcome possible. You wouldn’t be reading this newsletter if you didn’t love the cats and kittens in your life very much. Whether you are in the midst of a healing crisis with a vaccine-injured cat or just curious what could possibly happen if you keep vaccinating your kittens, you have come to the right place. The days of blind trust in anything or anyone are over. You are responsible for your cats’ health- your veterinarian will tell you all the benefits of routine vaccination, great. But no medical intervention is without corresponding risk. So in this article we are going to explore those health risks, and show you how to mitigate them.

So before you introduce your kitten or new rescue cat to the other members of your household, you decide to take him or her to the veterinarian for “routine” vaccinations. Typically these include FCVRP, Rabies, and newer shots like FeLV or even FCV. You take your new family member home, and you notice something is not right. Even though you don’t know this cat or kitten well, you can see they are acting strange. You dismiss it though, after all- they are brand new and just need time to adjust. Life gets busy, and you don’t pay much attention until you see the cat vomiting and shaking, too weak to stand. Now what?

This scenario is not uncommon, although not many traditional veterinarians are unwilling to discuss it or unaware that adverse events are related to vaccines directly. Vaccine adverse events are not always quite so obvious though, many symptoms take weeks or months to develop, depending on the health of the cat or kittens. Kittens usually fare the worst post-vaccination, with neurological reactions are the most common reaction to vaccinations reported in cats as well as dogs. Most common among these is cerebellar disease, which causes loss of motor coordination, swaying, strange gait, facial ticks and sensitivity to light. Mostly this is associated with kittens vaccinated at five weeks of age or younger with a modified live vaccine such as FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia), but know that adult dogs and kittens alike receive the exact same dose of a vaccine. Meaning, a tiny kitten and Great Dane get the same shot. Does this really seem like a good idea?

And back to FVRCP for a moment- Lameness can also occur in kittens vaccinated with a live modified vaccine such as FVRCP. The lameness may take up to three weeks to appear and can last three days or until death. Conventional treatment includes antibiotics and pain medication, which shows just how painful this is for the afflicted animal. FVRCP includes the first three core Vaccines Recommended for Cats listed below in a 3-in-1 combo shot:

• (Combo) Panleukopenia (aka Distemper or Felineparvo virus)

• (Combo) Rhinotracheitis (Feline herpesvirus-1, FHV)

• (Combo) Calcivirus (FCV)

• Rabies

• FeLV is not on this list due to the high incidence of Feline Injection-site sarcomas post-vaccination.

  So let’s look at each of these vaccines briefly and start asking some hard questions.

Virus #1: Panleukopenia (Combo Vaccine (FVRCP))

Virus #2: Feline Calicivirus (FCV)

There is a huge problem when combining these three viruses in to one shot. First of all, 35% of all cats are born with Feline Calicivirus. It lives in the gut. So vaccinating a kitten or cat against it can manifest a latent infection in to a deadly, highly virulent strain. We have talked more in-depth about Feline Calicivirus here in kittens and how to treat it here for cats in general, but this is not a preventable illness due to it existing in so many cats and kittens in the first place. So vaccinating will not only NOT prevent FCV from occurring (vaccines have up to two strains, FCV has dozens of strains as of today), it can trigger a severe immune system response by activating the existing virus in the cat’s body. As we mentioned previously:

There is a recently emerging strain, called virulent systemic calicivirus, that causes very serious swelling of the face, ulcerative skin lesions and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes). This strain of calicivirus is very contagious, the risk of death is very high. It is important to note that this highly virulent strain did not exist prior to routine vaccination for FCV within the past 5-8 years. The latest vaccine contains two strains of FCV, which only allows for more mutation. It appears the vaccine is forcing the virus to mutate and become more virulent and aggressive. Please, please consider sparing your cat this vaccine. It may be contributing to truly deadly strains of this already serious virus.

Virus #3: Rhinotracheitis (Feline herpesvirus-1) FHV

In another newsletter addressing the feline flu, we talk about FHV-1 and how to treat it. Kittens are usually the ones most greatly impacted by FHV-1. Mom can provide immunity to it for the length of time babies are nursing, but that immunity wanes quickly as soon as kittens are taken from mom. Another reason to keep kittens with mom as long as possible. Also, it is highly treatable and not a cause for alarm if treated early. It is a lifelong illness though, so injecting the virus in to a cat’s body is very risky if they already have it.

This is really important to understand about Feline Herpesvirus- using corticosteroids to treat it can actually make it worse, according to this NIH study. Do NOT use steroids to treat this viral infection- this means prednisolone and dexamethasone. They will make the infection spread. Also, the cat or kitten is not contagious when the infection is latent, another word for inactive. Meaning, vaccinating a cat or kitten can again activate that latent infection and make the animal contagious, potentially creating more virulent strains over time. It can be a vicious cycle.

Fear of illness is what drives millions to rush their cats each year for vaccination, FVRCP being at the top of the “mandatory” list. Mainstream healthcare cites egregious, “airborne” transmission if a cat or kitten is raised without it. But that is a gross over-simplification of the facts. Kittens get these illnesses from their parents, and they survive in the gut and mucosal linings until they are activated by stress- being taken away from mom, thrown in to a cage, spayed/neutered, diet changes, you get the picture. So if a cat or kitten has already been exposed to a virus from birth or from it being activated in their bodies from being in a high stress environment like a shelter, what good is it really going to do to risk re-activating the immune response in the body by injecting it with the virus- AGAIN? This virus is created with feline kidney cells to begin with, so you run the risk of giving your cat Chronic Kidney Disease with every shot. Is it worth it? None of these illnesses are fatal if treated properly.

A pregnant cat should never be vaccinated as this can cause birth defects or severe infections in newborns. So what does this say exactly about kittens, or cats with immune system deficiencies? If these things are truly safe, why then would they kill neonatal kittens? Well, buffering agents in vaccines are a highly suspicious culprit.
“ Buffering agents such as the sugars glycerol, sorbitol and sucrose, as well as salts and borax … all act to buffer the varied chemical (vaccine) /cocktail to help maintain a balanced pH.

The borax I mention is sodium borate … a Substance of Very High Concern identified by the European Chemicals Agency. It’s the same detergent we grew up within the box with a mule team of 20. Its role in vaccines is unclear, except to maintain a pH balance."

It’s associated with increased fetal mortality, low birth weight and infant malformations. In dogs and rats it’s shown to decrease fertility rates – that is, after feeding it to them. Certainly not humane … but feeding toxic borate is not as toxic as injecting it into the body.” -Dee Blanco, DVM

Rabies - a threat, but where is it really?

Dr. William Falconer, DVM, has been practicing veterinary medicine across the globe for over 30 years. He has a masterful short course on rabies, which demonstrates the concerns of rabies, as well as the vaccine, and how you can safely protect your cats and dogs with alternative options. From his free Rabies Short Course: 

Well, in addition to the wild virus causing mayhem, we're seeing all sorts of problems with those who've simply been vaccinated against rabies.

Maybe you know someone who's had these shots?

When your animal gets a simple rabies vaccination, the killed virus is injected straight into your animal's body, bypassing all the natural defenses.

The after-effects of that single vaccine, even if you've given up repeating all the others, can be lifelong.

Examples we've seen in clinical practice include:

• Epilepsy with seizures (out of control, flailing contortions)

• Laryngeal paralysis (your senior dog has noisy, difficult breathing)

• Swallowing is impaired (a cough or gag appears on eating or drinking.This can progress to regurgitation and eventually to rear-end paralysis, i.e. generalized nerve paralysis)

• New fears, like thunder or fireworks

• Hypersensitivity to noise, light, and touch

• Out and out aggression towards others

“Rabies, nationwide, is nowhere near the problem the veterinarians, media, politicians and bureaucrats would like you to believe. If you wish more of the truth go to your local city or county government building and look up the codes and statutes concerning vaccines and rabies. Get figures from local animal control for rabies in dogs, cats and wildlife in your area. Then you can start to fight back, take control of your life, and protect your pet from the only dreaded disease that is important–special interest groups pushing their program leading to vaccine induced damaged immune systems. Only you can set yourself free.

Current Veterinary Therapy by Kirk, the textbook bible for veterinarians in general, has an article on canine and feline vaccines by two researchers. Near the end of the article is a paragraph called Annual Vaccinations. It states “The practice of annual vaccinations lacks scientific validity or verification. There is no immunological requirement for annual vaccinations. The practice of annual vaccinations should be considered of questionable efficacy unless it is used as a mechanism to provide an annual physical examination or is required by law.” Sure, if we can’t manipulate you with annual vaccinations let’s pass a law to get you into the office. Nice trick!” - John Fudens HMC

The

Alternatives to Conventional Vaccines- What are they and how they work?

Nosodes, tautodes, and titration testing are powerful, safe, and effective alternatives to conventional vaccines that will protect your cats and empower you to take charge of your cat’s health in a meaningful way. Knowledge is not only power, it can be life-saving for the ones we love. You are not bound by toxic, painful, and even deadly approaches to feline health. You and your cat deserve simple and effective ways to get- and stay-healthy! Here is one way to educate yourself about what they are and how they work, from a veterinarian who has been using them for decades. Below is a little more about each one and how to use them to support your cat’s health!

NOSODES- from Holistic Pet Care:
“A nosode could be described as an "oral vaccine" in the sense that its purpose is to "immunize" the body against a specific disease. The major difference between a nosode and an "orthodox" vaccine is of course the extremely small (if any) quantity of physical substance in a nosode. Remember, it is the "energy" pattern not the "substance" that does the job in a homeopathic remedy. “

 TAUTODES- begin as drugs or vaccines that are made into remedies by dilution according to homeopathic principles. Tautodes are used by pet guardians who have an animal who they feel must be re-vaccinated, for whatever reason. They will help mitigate the vaccinosis (adverse events) effects. They can be used both therapeutically (post-vaccination) or as a preventive (in lieu of vaccination). Because of ultra-dilution, they are free of infectious potential. In other words, tautode is a term for homeopathic medicines made from vaccines or conventional drugs. Here is an excellent resource to learn more about them and how they are being used to help dogs and cats globally.

TITRATION TESTING- an affordable way to test durable immunity without over-vaccinating. For those who want to go in-depth as to the strengths and weaknesses of titration testing, Dr. Wil Falconer, DVM has an excellent article here. Suffice to say, it needs to be conducted by an experienced practitioner who knows your cats and understands the two types of immunity in the body, otherwise it serves as an incomplete test, as it only measures one fraction of the entire immune response: the antibodies produced against a particular organism.

“While the presence (of antibodies) indicates protection, there is no reason for the immune system to keep producing antibodies against an invader forever, so, over time, these levels of antibody will wane.The fight is finished, there’s no more invader showing up, so there’s no need to keep a titer high. What is not measured by the titer test is any part of the cell-mediated immunity, especially the memory cells. So, while antibody levels will wane over time, these long-lived memory cells lie quietly in the recesses of the immune system, awaiting further signals that the invader is back. It is these cells that are responsible for the duration of immunity that cannot be measured by a titer test.

If you have vaccinated a kitten who may have been too young to respond to the vaccine, a titer test could tell you if immunity is present.

A previously vaccinated adult cat who has a gradually falling titer over the years very likely still has immunity from the memory cells, so don’t forget that a titer test won’t show this immunity.” - Dr. Wil Falconer, DVM

Who To Talk To About Vaccine Concerns

If you are looking for veterinarians who have helped thousands of cats and dogs recover from vaccine injury over the past decades, Dr. Patricia Jordan should be high on your list. Dr. Jordan has dedicated her life to helping humans understand the scientific dangers of vaccines, and animals to recover from vaccine-induced disease.  She is a member of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, having trained under Dr. Richard Pitcairn of the Animal Natural Health Center and the NCH (National Center of Homeopathy. She writes a lot for Dogs Naturally Magazine and has her own feline practice in North Carolina.

What to Do if Your Cat or Kitten Has Been Injured

Whether or not you notice immediate, life-threatening signs post-vaccination or not, we recommend starting detox from the shots right away. Hands down, we recommend FeLife by Doc Clemens Remedies. It is based on thuja, a vaccinosis remedy being used by naturopathic veterinarians for decades. Dr. Patricia Jordan, DVM, wrote a great paper on her use cases for it specifically as a vaccine-injury remedy. In 2011, at the annual AVH Conference, Dr. Jordan presented Vaccinosis and Its Cure By Thuja Revisited along with the work of Dr. J Compton Burnett. The creator of FeLife, Mr. Paul Clemens, is also available for consultations if needed as well. They are a fantastic company and we have used FeLife personally for rabies vaccine injury recovery for one of our own cats, as well as our Feline Leukemiavirus (FeLV) and FCV cats as well. It works so very well. The sooner you can start treatment, the better to avoid long-term neurological damage, especially where rabies is concerned.

The current epidemic of inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphosarcoma, pancreatitis, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory hepatitis, and hyperthyroidism, as well as chronic renal failure, are now thought by many to be strongly influenced by overvaccination.
-Dr. Fern Slack, Feline Veterinarian 

We hope this newsletter give you some support and insight as to how feline vaccinations work, and some things you can do to help your cat get healthy and stay healthy with non-toxic and inexpensive options. You are your cat’s advocate in all areas of life, and we want to give you all the knowledge and tools possible to make the best, informed decisions possible for your family. If we can help prevent your cats from suffering in the same ways ours did for many years, then we can pay their life lessons forward in a meaningful way. Being a cat guardian can be very stressful and full of twists and turns. We hope this article serves you and yours navigate this journey of life a little easier, and a little more empowered.

Until next time, be well. And never forget- Always Be Curious!