The debate on giving annual vaccinations to ensure good cat health versus the unhealthy implications of inoculation on the pet health has been going on for years. Many veterinarians believe that there is enough evidence to suggest that annual vaccine shots for deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, is unnecessary and even harmful in some cases.

There is no doubt vaccinations (immunizations, "shots") have saved the lives of millions of cats. Before the days of effective vaccines, cats routinely died from panleukopenia ("feline distemper") and complications of upper respiratory (herpesvirus, calicivirus) infections. Newer vaccines are available to protect against feline leukemia virus infection, feline infectious peritonitis virus and other infections (chlamydia, feline bordetella, ringworm). Current vaccination programs protect our cats (and us) from the threat of rabies.

Cat health related vaccines that have been licensed by the federal government are tested to make sure that they protect pet health against diseases for one year. But, because these vaccines are not tested for long-term pet health side effects nor do they measure the time for which the vaccine will be effective, some studies at universities have suggested that cat health can be protected by these vaccines for many years negating the requirement of annual shots. This also means that pet owners don't have to waste money on annual inoculations for better pet health and cat health.

What Studies Tell About Pet Health Vaccines

Typically, rabies is the only pet health disease that can pose a threat to people; most vaccines aren't statutory by law. However, vets recommend annual boosters to guard cat health against those potential diseases that can be life threatening (parvovirus in dogs, distemper, herpes in cats etc). In advent of this new and scientific data that cites annual booster shots leading to certain health risks such as hyperthyroidism in cats, more and more vets are now making changes in their practices. According to a poll, it has been found that the vaccination count has fallen down by 49% than the figure 5 years ago.

It's safe to assume that no one, including vets, scientists etc, knows the duration of protection cat health vaccines offer. Moreover, vaccine makers don't wish to spend millions of pounds on proving the duration of their vaccines nor do they wish to test it.

Health Problems Related to Cat Health Vaccines

More studies, off late, are beginning to link many chronic pet health problems to inoculations. Cat health skin related problems such as hair loss, ulcers, lesions, indurations and serious problems such as indurations or hard lumps at and around the site of the injection have often been related to vaccines. While these adverse reactions to pet health vaccines may not pose the threat of an epidemic, it definitely rings an alarm bell and warrants a re-examination of the conventional beliefs related to vaccination practices.

Adverse Reactions to Pet Health Vaccines

Adverse reactions to pet health vaccines include fever, stiffness of joints, lethargy, abdominal tenderness, anaphylactic shock, kidney and liver problems among others. In some cases, vets believe that those cats/dogs that have a pre-existing health problem may suffer a much faster decline in their health when given annual booster shots.