does my brother have a bad vet?

[Stacy]

I apologize, this isn't a doodle specific question, in fact it's actually a cat question, but you all know so many things I thought I would ask here anyway!

Because of a family emergency I took my brother's crazy dog Riley, and his cat Lily, to a previously scheduled vet appointment today. The cat needed immunizations and they wanted Riley to be looked at because she has been scratching herself. 

My sister-in-law asked for Lily to have a 3 year Rabies vaccine. So I asked the vet. And he told me that they don't offer the three year vaccine because "you stimulate the immune system 3 times as much and it increases the chance of having a vaccine reaction." But then he gave the vaccines on either side of her neck - I couldn't see if he gave the immunizations actually between the shoulder blades, but it was definitely the scruff of her neck. And my quick google check indicated that the vaccines should be given in the hind legs because if there is an immune mediated sarcoma it couldn't be completely removed from the front legs (I may have gotten that totally wrong, I didn't dig that deeply.) But I also call shenanigans on the idea that the 3 year vaccine stimulates the immune system 3 times as much as a 1 year rabies vaccine. Again, I haven't done any real research, but I feel like I've read or heard that the 3 year vaccine was basically identical to the 1 year vaccine, it was all just labeling. 

The impression I got, but what he didn't actually say was that if they give the three year vaccine people won't come back to have yearly check-ups. 

I didn't get a great vibe off of this vet. I felt like he was kind of condescending, but I don't do cats. So tell me if I'm wrong! Or tell me if my brother and sister-in-law should find another vet!

Thanks! Stacy

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have read that the three year vaccine is the same as the one year vaccine.

[Stacy]

I've read that as well. I felt that the vets response to the request was kind of confrontational, and it startled me enough that I really just nodded at his answer and let him do his thing. I think I would have had a different response if they were my dogs, but I was really just the driver. I took them, I did what she asked on the note, and then I dropped them back off at home. I was not impressed with the experience though.

[Pauline Rackley]

Several issues here. The adjuvant in some vaccines has been known to  cause vaccine induced sarcomas (cancers) in some cats, so the vaccine itself can be an issue. Cats can also have problems with anything injected under the skin. Only use non adjuvanted vaccines in cats. Purevax vaccines are the only vaccines to use in cats. They make a 1 and 3 year rabies, but not all vets have both. Secondly, vaccines should be given in a hind leg because if the cat should develop a sarcoma, the leg can be amputated and the cat will have a chance at survival. These cancers are aggressive and the prognosis is not good. I would advise  your brother to look for a cat friendly practice. Cats are not small dogs.If you notice any swellings at the injection site have it checked immediately. BTW I am a registered veterinary technician and work at a cat friendly practice that keeps abreast of current research.

[Stacy]

This is helpul information! Thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Pauline is correct. Years ago, my sister's cat developed a sarcoma after a vaccine given in the back of the neck, and only later learned that had it been given in the hind leg, the cat could have been saved. 

It's also true that the 3 year vaccine is exactly the same as the 1 year vaccine, only the labeling is different.

Bottom line, your brother needs a new vet. 

[Stacy]

Thanks for confirming my suspicion. I find it so strange that he would just look at me and lie to me. I'll have to see if I can tactfully suggest that they find a new place to take the animals. I'm pretty sure neither one of them research everything to death the way I do. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Stacy,

Kudos to you for being aware that the information given to you didn't seem correct.  More kudos to you for doing a bit of research.  Now if you can get your brother and sister-in-law to change to a better vet - at least for their cat, you will have won the award!