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Feline Practitioners
Update Vaccination Guidelines: “User Friendly” Guidelines to be published
in 2007. Read the AAFP's Press Release via the link above.
Our family would like to once again commend the American
Association of Feline Practitioners for their tireless dedication
towards empowering animal lovers with the information that enables them to
make the very best decisions concerning the vaccination needs of their beloved
feline
children.
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"Feline Injection Site-Associated Sarcoma: Is it a
Reason to Critically Evaluate our Vaccination Policies?"
Published in the April 2006 Issue of Veterinary
Microbiology this abstract details the continuing debate among veterinary
professionals regarding the complex issue of feline vaccinations.
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The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association is one of the most respected and widely read peer
reviewed publications within the veterinary community.
In the July 15, 2006 issue, the AVMA announces that Fort
Dodge Animal Health has recalled about 330,000 doses of a rabies vaccine
after a quality-assurance test indicated an issue with the duration of
protection.
The company confirmed one dog contracted rabies after receiving a dose from
Serial 873113A of its Rabvac 3 TF vaccine. A statement from Fort Dodge added
that the primary reason a vaccinated animal would contract the disease is
because of a poor immune response.
I personally called and spoke with a technical representative from Fort Dodge
Animal Health who confirmed that the vaccine lot affected in this quality
control problem affected both feline as well as canine rabies vaccines produced
by their company.
Please click on the AVMA logo above to read the full details regarding this most
recent and significant vaccine recall.
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With the continued belief that "knowledge is
empowering" as well as due to the fact that a significant
number of feline loving "family's" often also include canine children
we are proud to present the 2006 American
Animal Hospital Associations (AAHA) Canine
Vaccine Guidelines.
The AAHA released its first set of canine
vaccination guidelines in 2003. The AAHA Canine
Vaccine Task Force reconvened in 2005 to re-examine and revise the guidelines to
reflect changes in the areas of canine vaccines.
This comprehensive 28 page report is a must read for every animal loving family
seeking to make the very best decisions regarding the vaccination needs of their
canine child.
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The World Small Animal Veterinary Association
conducted it's 30th World Congress in May of 2005 in Mexico.
Dr.Barbara E. Kitchell, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM,
Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical
Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois presented a
comprehensive historical as well as current overview of Feline
Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas.
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The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association is one of the most respected and widely read peer
reviewed publications within the veterinary community. We are
pleased to be able to share with you the article titled: "AVMA
Offers Veterinarians Vaccination Resources".
Published in the
September 15, 2005 issue of JAVMA, this article details the complex issue of
companion animal vaccinations.
One aspect of this important issue which continues to draw attention is that of
the need for "Informed Consent"
within the veterinary profession.
This issue is receiving
current attention due to the fact that a Chicago law firm is recruiting pet
owners for a possible class action lawsuit alleging misrepresentation of the
need for pet vaccinations.
Read the Full Story
regarding the
possible class action lawsuit
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In follow-up to the article referenced below, we're very happy to share the
following Merial press release with you. This press
release details the new technology (VET JET) which now allows for the
transdermal delivery
of their company's FeLV vaccine.
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We're very excited to be able to share with you a groundbreaking new
advancement in the field of veterinary immunology which was published in the
Winter 2004 edition of the
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The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association is one of the most respected and widely read peer
reviewed publications within the veterinary community. We're pleased
to be able to share with you the article titled: Controversy,
Confusion Continue To Surround Vaccine Guidelines.
This article which was published in the
September 15 issue of JAVMA comprehensively details the complex issue of
companion animal vaccination guidelines.
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The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association is one of the most respected and widely read peer
reviewed publications within the veterinary community. We're
pleased to be able to share with you the abstract titled: "Duration of
Serologic Response to Three Viral Antigens in Cats "
Just as the understanding of veterinary immunology is ever-evolving, so too are veterinary professionals continuing to reevaluate
the outdated practice of vaccinating "every" cat and dog with
"every" vaccine annually.
While vaccinations still play an important role in the prevention of
disease for our feline and canine children, the decisions concerning
"which" vaccine(s) should be administered as well as "how
often" should always be based on the individual risk factors of each
furry child as well as the current understanding of the safety and
efficacy of each vaccine.
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While recently making what was widely hailed to be a controversial
decision towards ceasing support of the Vaccine Associated Feline Sarcoma Task
Force, the American Veterinary Medical Association's
2003 Annual Convention included three comprehensive seminars dedicated to
companion animal vaccinations.
Vaccine
Labels: Are There Changes in the Future?
Cat
and Dog Vaccination: A Reaction to COBTA's Report
Improving
Adverse Vaccine Event Reporting: What Does the Future Hold?
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We would once again like to express our most heartfelt gratitude to our
friends at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
With their kind assistance and permission, we are pleased to be able to share
with you the article titled: "
Special Note:
You
will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this nine page article.
If you do not have this application already installed on your computer, you
can use this direct link to Adobe's website where you can download it for
free.
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Published in the Spring 2003 issue
of the Veterinary Cancer Society's Newsletter, this article
serves as an excellent
commentary concerning the American Veterinary Medical Associations recent
controversial decision to cease funding (and most support) of the Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task
Force.
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"U.S. Pharmacopeia to Close Veterinary Practitioners' Reporting Program"
While for numerous years an excellent focal
point for the reporting of adverse reactions resulting from the use of
veterinary biologics, the USP has recently ceased its veterinary reporting
operations.
To view other resources for the reporting of adverse
reactions to veterinary biologics, please visit Sylvia's "Reporting"
page.
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"AVMA Ends Support of Feline Sarcoma Task
Force"
It is with great disappointment that we received the news via the January
15th issue of the "Journal of the American
Veterinary Medical Association" that the American Veterinary
Medical Association had made the decision to cease financial support of
the "Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task
Force".
While there was a great deal of debate within their organization with
regard to this Executive Board decision, the AVMA ultimately chose to
cease funding of this continued and serious feline health care
concern.
We are however, very please to report that the distinguished members of
the "Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task
Force" have announced that they will continue on in their
tireless efforts towards helping to better understand and eventually eradicate
this terrible disease.
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With the kind assistance of, and permission from our friends at the
"World Small Animal Veterinary Association",
we are very pleased to be able to share with you the comprehensive seminar
notes of two seminars that were presented as part of the WSAVA's year 2002 World Congress
which was held in
Granada, Spain - October 3-6.
"Feline Vaccination Protocols"
(Dr. Richard B. Ford, DVM, MS,
Dipl ACVIM)
"Nutrition and Cancer: Exciting Advances for
2002"
(Dr. Gregory K. Ogilvie, DVM,
Diplomate ACVIM)
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As part of its continuing effort to educate veterinarians and the
public about administration of vaccines to cats and dogs, the AVMA's
Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents has published a report on
vaccinations in the November 15, 2002 issue of the Journal
of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
While the above link will provide you with a summary of this article, we
are currently working with our friends in the AVMA in an effort to make
the full text of this comprehensive report available as part of the
"public" section of their organization's excellent web presence.
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"AVMA, AAHA to
Release Vaccine Positions", published in
the October 2002 issue of DVM Newsmagazine, the Newsmagazine of veterinary
medicine.
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Our family would like to once again extend its most heartfelt
appreciation to Dr. Dennis Macy as well as our new friends at "Thomson
Veterinary Healthcare Communications".
Dr. Macy is one of the nations most distinguished expert's in the field of
veterinary immunology and a long time advocate of our family's
"effort of education". Dr. Macy presented three seminars
at the 2002 Central Veterinary Conference, held in Kansas City MO. August
17-20.
Thanks to the kind assistance of the wonderful professionals at "Thomson
Veterinary Healthcare Communications", facilitator's of the
Central Veterinary Conference, we are very pleased to be able to share
with you the complete notes of these seminars.
"What we know about Vaccine-Associated
Sarcomas"
"Treating and Managing Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas"
"Vaccine Recommendations: The
Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
It is only thanks to the continued kind assistance of our friends in the
professional community that our family is able to successfully carry forth
our dear Angel girl's inspired "effort of education".
Please note:
Dr. Macy's seminar notes are copyrighted by "Thomson
Veterinary Healthcare Communications" and may not be
reproduced in any form without permission from their organization as well
as Dr. Macy.
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Recently, a great deal of "press" has been generated
resulting from the fact that a new vaccine
is now being marketed for protection against FIV
(Feline Aids).
While the development of this new vaccine for FIV brings with it great hope in the battle
against this terrible disease, so too has this medical milestone raised
several important questions/concerns.
Due to the significance of these important
issues, the AAFP has recently published a
comprehensive
"Information Brief" (September 2002) that addresses these concerns in
scientific detail.
Rest assured that in our continuing attempt to keep
abreast of the most timely and accurate information regarding the issue of
feline immunology, we are working diligently towards obtaining additional
information regarding this new vaccine.
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The AVMA conducted it's 139th Annual
Convention July 13-17th in Nashville Tennessee. As part of this
highly regarded gathering of veterinary professionals, Dr. Alfred M.
Legendre, DVM, MS Diplomate ACVIM of the University
of Tennessee, College
of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinical
Sciences presented a seminar titled: "Controversies
in the Vaccination of Cats".
We would like to extend our family's most heartfelt appreciation to Dr.
Legendre for having taken the time out of his professional schedule to
share the notes from this comprehensive seminar with us. Dr. Legendary's
presentation is an excellent summary of the many factors that
need to be considered when attempting to choose the most appropriate
vaccination plan for your feline child.
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We are pleased to be able to share with you the first chapter of a book
titled "Feline Oncology"
authored by Dr.'s Gregory K Ogilvie, Professor, Colorado State University,
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Antony Moore, Professor,
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences.
Dr.'s Ogilvie and Moore are nationally respected experts in the field of
veterinary oncology. One of the most important aspects of the battle
against cancer is that of the quality of life for the patient.
The first chapter of Dr.'s Ogilvie and Moore's book titled: "Compassionate
Care for the Feline Cancer Patient"
should be a must read for any feline loving family who unfortunately find
themselves and their fur baby facing the battle against cancer.
Special Note:
You
will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this six page composition.
If you do not have this application already installed on your computer, you
can use this direct link to Adobe's website where you can download it for
free.
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Dr.'s Philip Kass and
Glenna Gobar and their distinguished colleagues at the University of California
at Davis have recently completed a three year "epidemiological
research effort in an attempt to quantify the incidence of vaccination practices,
postvaccinal reactions, and vaccine site-associated sarcomas in cats in the
United States and Canada.
We are pleased to be able to share with you an abstract which summarizes
Dr.'s Kass and Gobar's research efforts. For additional information
detailing the scope of this comprehensive effort, please refer to
the May 15th, 2002 issue of the "Journal
of the American Veterinary Medical Association".
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Post injection inflammation continues to be one of the major suspects
with regard to the development of vaccine related sarcomas. For
those kitty's whose risk of exposure warrants the administration of an
upper respiratory vaccine, use of an intranasal vaccine should be
considered. While administration of the feline intranasal vaccine
can result in side-effects such as runny noses, eyes and fever, there have
been no published cases of VAS having resulted from use of this vaccine.
While the Heska corporation has marketed a feline intranasal upper respiratory
vaccine for quite a few years (referenced elsewhere as part of this web page),
the abstract titled: "
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The March 2002 issue of "Veterinary
Pathology", the official journal of the American
College of Veterinary Pathologists includes the article titled:
"Cats Differ from Mink and Ferrets in Their Response
to Commercial Vaccines: A Histologic Comparison of Early Vaccine Reactions".
This article lends even more scientific credence to the belief that VAS
appears to be almost entirely specific to the feline species.
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The American College of Veterinary Internal
Medicine is the official organization of the veterinary specialties
of internal medicine, cardiology, neurology and oncology.
The 2002 ACVIM Annual Forum is scheduled to take place May 29- June 1 in
Dallas, Texas.
In the ever evolving field of veterinary immunology, we're very pleased to
be able to continue presenting some of the most timely information
regarding this important health care issue.
"
Parenteral Administration of FVRCP Vaccines Induces Antibodies Against Feline Renal
Tissues" & "Efficacy
of Giardia Vaccination for Treatment of Giardiasis in Cats"
are abstracts of two presentations scheduled to be presented at this years
ACVIM Annual Forum.
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The Veterinary Record is the official
publication of the British Veterinary Association.
This weekly publication contains news, comment, letters and peer-reviewed clinical research
papers covering a wide range of veterinary topics.
The February 2nd, 2002 issue of the Veterinary
Record includes the article titled: "Veterinary Products Committee
Working Group Report On Feline And Canine Vaccination".
This comprehensive report touches on numerous aspects of the issues which
need to be addressed in an effort to empower companion animal lovers and
veterinary professionals with the information which will enable them to
make the very best decisions concerning the vaccination needs of their
furry children/clients.
The link above will direct you to the "abstract" summary of this
report.
The full report (110 pages) is available as part of the NOAH
(National Office of Animal Health) website via the following link:
"Veterinary Products Committee
Working Group Report On Feline And Canine Vaccination"
(In an Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
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The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association is one of the most respected and widely read peer
reviewed publications for members of the veterinary community. We're
pleased to be able to share with you the abstract titled: "st,
2002
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During the American Veterinary Medical
Association's July 2001 annual convention, their organizations
Executive Board and House of Delegates voted on and approved the Position
Paper titled "Principles of Vaccination".
This comprehensive document details the numerous variables and concerns
relating to veterinary vaccinations, especially in dogs and cats.
We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Donald J.
Klingborg, Assistant Dean at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
for kindly taking the time out of his busy schedule to facilitate our
family's request to have the AVMA include this informative "Position
Paper" as part of the public section of their organizations wonderful
web effort.
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Dr. Beverly Kidney and her colleagues at the Western
College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada are
continuing to work tirelessly towards conducting VAS research, funded in
part by the Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force.
With the kind permission of Dr. John W. Pharr, DVM, MSc, Dipl ACVR &
ECVDI,
we are pleased to be able to share with you the article titled: "Do
Viruses Cause VAFS?"
This article was published in the summer 2001 issue of VET TOPICS, the
newsletter of the Companion Animal Health Fund of the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Special Note:
You
will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this two page article.
If you do not have this application already installed on your computer, you
can use this direct link to Adobe's website where you can download it for
free.
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Thanks to the kind assistance of Dr. Bernard Séguin, DVM, MS,
Dip ACVS, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgical and Radiological
Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis,
we are very pleased to share with you the notes from a seminar titled "Dealing
With Feline Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas".
Dr. Séguin
presented this seminar as part of the "Fourteenth Annual Fall
Symposium on Recent Advances in Clinical Veterinary Medicine" at
U.C.
Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Séguin's
seminar notes provide an excellent summary of VAS, with
particular focus on the issue of treatment options. Dr. Séguin
has
actually completed a more comprehensive technical paper concerning the
issue of VAS which is scheduled to be published early next year in "Veterinary Clinics of
North America, Small Animal Practice".
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Our family would like to extend its heartfelt
appreciation to Dr. Duane Flemming, D.V.M., J.D., D.A.C.V.O., President of the
American Veterinary Medical Law Association.
Dr. Flemming was kind enough to take the time to
compose an abstract for a technical paper that he had published in the
May 2001 issue of "Veterinary Clinics of
North America, Small Animal Practice".
One of the excellent points that Dr. Flemming addresses in "The
Potential for Liability in the Use and Misuse of Veterinary Vaccines"
is the importance of an "informed
consent" document between veterinary
professionals and their clients.
Use of an "informed consent"
document truly creates a "win-win"
situation for the veterinary professional and their client. Use of this
document not only helps to protect the veterinary professional from vaccine-related claims, but more importantly makes sure that their
clients are empowered with information concerning both the "benefits"
as well as "risks"
of feline vaccinations.
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We've recently become aware of a very unique program being conducted by
Cornell University, College of Veterinary
Medicines Diagnostic Laboratory.
The "VAX-Testing" is a program
designed to aid in decision-making about pet vaccinations.
This program benefits both veterinarians and companion animal lovers
alike.
Benefits for the companion animal lover:
* This program gives an objective basis
for determining an optimal vaccination schedule while inviting owners to participate
in a long-term preventive plan for their animals.
* It gives assurance that animals will be
evaluated annually while not risking exposure to over-vaccination.
Benefits to the veterinarians who participate:
*This program makes an alternative to routine
revaccination available for veterinarians and clients who are concerned
about over-vaccination.
* The program is designed to ensure that the
frequency of pet visits to animal clinics can be maintained for serology
testing in lieu of vaccinating.
*The program will contribute to the advancement of science by
providing data that can be used to help determine the duration of immunity
for veterinary vaccines.
Special Note:
You
will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the pages of this five page program.
If you do not have this application already installed on your computer, you
can use this direct link to Adobe's website where you can download it for
free.
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"Inflammation" and
vaccine"Adjuvants" are two theories as to the
possible cause(s) of vaccine related sarcomas.
Merial produces the PUREVAX line of feline vaccines - the only
line of vaccines completely free of chemical adjuvants.
While we've presented information relating to this line of vaccines since
1999, what some people don't know is that the PureVax product line
includes not just a rabies vaccine, but vaccines for FeLV and all of the
upper respiratory vaccinations, as well as other "combination"
vaccines.
Below, we've included links to all of Merial's "PureVax" line of
vaccines as well as other non-adjuvanted and intranasal vaccines
manufactured by Synbiotics,
BIOCOR and
Heska.
As always, we don't ever intend to recommend one vaccine or vaccination protocol over
another. What we encourage you to do, is to empower yourself with information
and discuss this information with your veterinarian. By doing so, you and your
veterinarian will be able to make the very best vaccination decisions for your furry
family.
Note: The three files below are in a Adobe
Acrobat format and reside on Merial's website
PureVax Rabies
PureVax FeLV
Feline 3
Upper
Respiratory
In another step towards minimizing the risk of post vaccination
sarcomas, the Synbiotics corporation has introduced a single
antigen / non-adjuvanted feline FeLV vaccine. Since inflammation is one of the
"suspects" in the development of post injection feline sarcomas, this vaccine,
along with Merial's non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine called
"PureVax" are hopefully steps in the right
direction towards defeating VAS. Please be sure and hit "return"
on your browser as this link will take you to the fact sheet concerning the VACSYN/FeLV vaccine resides on Synbiotics corporate website.
In yet another step towards developing a vaccine that will hopefully
reduce the risk of post vaccination sarcomas, BIOCOR
Animal Health has recently announced the product release of PV-1™,
a Non-adjuvanted, Killed Virus, monovalent Feline Panleukopenia vaccine.
Experts believe that "inflammation" plays a key role in the
development of post vaccination sarcomas. Since the use of "non-adjuvanted"
vaccines result in less post vaccination inflammation, the hope is that
these type of vaccines will lead to a reduced incidence of VAS.
BIOCOR follows in the footsteps of Merial,
who markets "Purevax", a non
adjuvanted rabies vaccine and Synbiotics, who markets "VACSYN/FeLV", a non-adjuvanted Feline Leukemia vaccine. Heska
also markets an "intranasal" upper respiratory
vaccine.
*FPV-1
Non Adjuvanted Product Brochure
*FPV-1
Non Adjuvanted Technical Information
Of special note: Due to the fact that the experts
are as of yet unable to determine "exactly" what factor(s) lead to
the development of VAS, so too can pharmaceutical companies only claim
that these newer vaccines will hopefully "reduce" the chance of
post vaccination sarcoma development, not totally eliminate it.
Information regarding the above mentioned vaccines manufactured by Merial,
Synbiotics and Heska can be found linked from other sections of this web
page.
For feline lovers seeking alternative methods to feline vaccinations which expose our dear
kitties to no known risk of vaccine related sarcomas, please visit the link above to read
HESKA's fact sheet for their "Trivalent and Bivalent Feline Intranasal / Intraocular vaccines". Heska markets two
vaccines for cats offering the benefit of mucosal administration. Developed for oculonasal
administration, these vaccines stimulate protective mucosal and systemic immunity against
three commonly encountered infectious diseases affecting cats without any known risk of
vaccination site sarcomas. We strongly recommend that you print out a copy of this fact
sheet and discuss this type of vaccine administration with your veterinarian.
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Our family would like to thank Dr.'s
Alice Wolf and Glenna Mauldin as well as
our friends at the "World Small
Animal Veterinary Association"
for the kind assistance and permission to share the two following
proceedings with you:
World Small
Animal Veterinary Association"
for the kind assistance and permission to share the two following
proceedings with you:
World Small
Animal Veterinary Association"
for the kind assistance and permission to share the two following
proceedings with you:
"Vaccines of the Present and Future"
"Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas in the Cat"
These proceedings were presented at the 2001 "World
Small Animal Veterinary Association's"
World Congress.
Both of these comprehensive papers provide an excellent perspective of the
most timely and accurate information regarding VAS and feline vaccinations
in general.
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Thanks once again to the kind assistance of Dr. Philip Bergman, Head of
the Donaldson-Atwood Cancer Center, we are
very please to be able to share with you a comprehensive summary of the
current state of scientific knowledge regarding VAS.
Dr. Bergman presented this paper at the 'Voorjaarsdagen' Congress (Spring Congress in Dutch).
This professional conference is organized each year by the Netherlands Association
for Companion Animal Medicine (NACAM).
NACAM is a founding member of the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Association.
This conference is the only international Congress of the European Continent held in the same place every year. This
years conference took place April 20 thru 22, 2001.
Special heartfelt note:
It was with heavy heart that Dr. Bergman and our friends at the
University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine informed us of the
sudden passing of Dr. Greg MacEwen.
Dr. MacEwen, regarded by some of his colleagues as the
"grandfather" of veterinary oncology, was one of the most
respected and distinguished medical oncologists in the world.
Dr. MacEwen's passing is a tremendous loss to the veterinary professional
community as well as companion animal lovers around the world.
Dr. MacEwen was helping to lead the VAS research efforts at the University of
Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine. Our family would like to extend
our most heartfelt sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues.
Below is a link to a touching tribute that was published by the University of
Wisconsin in recognition of Dr. MacEwen.
Nation Loses a Veterinary Giant
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Special Note:
The links to the lectures below
are temporarily unavailable. While previously available to the
layperson animal loving public, the University of Washington is now
requiring a registration fee to obtain access to these lectures.
We're currently in the
process of attempting to obtain a summary of these valuable lectures
from Dr. Ford in our never-ending quest for knowledge.
We are very pleased to be able to share with you four comprehensive
lectures which are part of "Companion Animal Vaccines and
Vaccinations for the 21st Century", an online continuing
education class that is being taught at Washington
State University.
Dr. Richard B. Ford, Diplomate ACVIM, Professor of Medicine, North
Carolina State, College of Veterinary Medicine is the
instructor for this class and he has included these comprehensive lectures
as part of his course curriculum.
These lectures expertly address the numerous aspects regarding feline
vaccinations, but lecture 1 is of particular interest as it includes a
detailed assessment of VAS.
Feline Vaccination Protocols: Lecture 1
Feline Vaccination Protocols: Lecture 2
Feline Vaccination Protocols: Lecture 3
Feline Vaccination Protocols: Lecture 4
Special Note:
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these lectures.
If you do not have this application already installed on your computer,
you can use this direct link to Adobe's website where you can download it
for free.
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In the battle against VAS, one of the areas needing to be addressed is
that of "vaccine labeling".
Efforts are not only taking place with regard to producing safer vaccines,
but also with regard to improving vaccine labels and inserts.
The USDA Center for Veterinary Biologic Products
recently conducted it's "10th APHIS Veterinary Biologics Public
Meeting".
During this two day meeting Dr. Eleanor Eagly, CVB-LPD conducted a seminar
titled: "Future Labeling Enhancements".
Thanks to our kind friends at the USDA we are very pleased to be able to
share with you the notes of this informative seminar.
While the USDA is in the preliminary stages of addressing the need for
change with regard to vaccine labels and inserts, these notes present an
excellent summary of the important issues currently under consideration. |
We are pleased to be able to share with you a new program instituted by
Fort Dodge Animal Health.
The "Feline Healthcare Partnership"
is a unique program which allows private veterinarians and the
professionals at Fort Dodge Animal Health to determine if compensation is warranted
for post injection sarcomas that result from the use of vaccines
manufactured by their company.
This program is designed to be imitated by private veterinarians in cooperation
with the professionals at Fort Dodge Animal Health. Although companion
animal loving family's cannot contact Fort Dodge Animal Health directly,
we're sharing the details of this program with you for two significant reasons:
1) To the best of our knowledge, Fort Dodge
is the only veterinary pharmaceutical company to address VAS by developing
such a unique and proactive program.
2) Fort Dodge Animal Health is to be
commended for developing a program that addresses the financial aspect
that "vaccine/injection" site sarcomas have on those families
that unfortunately have a beloved fur baby battling this aggressive
disease. |
Due to the fact that "inflammation"
is one of the main suspects that leads to the development of VAS, some
experts believe that "vaccine associated
sarcoma" would be better named "injection
site sarcoma".
In our never-ending quest to keep abreast of the latest information
relating to VAS, we came across a report included in the FDA's
"Freedom of Information"
database which supports this suggestion.
This study was presented to the FDA by Novartis
Animal Health US, Inc. to obtain approval for their company's "Program
6 Month Injectable" flea control for cats. |
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We would like to extend our family's most heartfelt
appreciation to our friends at "Veterinary
Learning Systems", publishers of "Veterinary
Forum". With their kind permission, we are pleased to be
able to share with you the comprehensive article titled: "The
Summit On Feline Injection Site Sarcoma". This summit of
experts was sponsored by the American College of Veterinary Internal
Medicine. Authored by three of the nations leading veterinary
specialists, Dr.'s Philip Bergman, Dennis Macy and Lawrence McGill, this
comprehensive summary of VAS includes such topics as: Awareness and
Pathology, Pathogenesis and Treatment.
Please note that this article is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced
without permission of "Veterinary Learning Systems".
Special Note: This
file is 8 pages in length, so we've broken it down page by page with
navigation buttons on the bottom of each page. Due to the size of
these PDF files, please be patient, as it could take approximately 30
seconds or so for each page to fully load.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the pages of this comprehensive
report.
If you do not have this application already installed on your computer,
you can use this direct link to Adobe's website where you can download it
for free.
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Carrington Laboratories has received issuance of
full license from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Acemannan Immunostimulant for the treatment of fibrosarcoma in cats
and dogs.
Use the link above to view the brief press release issued by
Carrington Laboratories which includes company contact information or use
the link below to read a more comprehensive article detailing this recent
development, published in the veterinary medicine section of
"About.com".
 New
Hope In The Fight Against Cancer In Dogs And Cats
You will also find several other informational studies and abstracts relating to the drug
acemannan located at the bottom of our dear girl's "Protocol
Page". |
Over the course of our dear girl's heartfelt "effort of education", no
veterinary professional has been more instrumental in helping us to empower others via
education that Dr. Dennis Macy of Colorado State, College of
Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Macy and his distinguished colleagues are continuing
to lead the battle against VAS. In this latest article which he has been so kind to
share with us, Dr. Macy not only presents and excellent overview VAS, but also explains
just why this disease is believed to be exclusive to the feline species. |
Our family would like to extend our most heartfelt appreciation
to Kimberley Allen-McGill, Dr. Nigel Gumley and the Canadian
Veterinary Medical Association for their kind permission to share with you
the article titled "Revaccination guidelines
revisited". Dr. Gumley's article was
originally published in the January 2000 issue of
the Canadian Veterinary Journal. It
is an excellent summary of the many issues which the Canadian
Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Medical Association are
taking into consideration towards developing a series of revised guidelines for small
animal vaccinations. |
Thanks to our friends at Alley Cat Allies, we are
pleased to be able to share with you the article titled "At
What Cost Protection ?" which was published in the June 2000 issue of "The Whole Cat Journal".
This comprehensive article is a well balanced perspective concerning the issue of rabies,
presenting information from both the traditional and holistic side of veterinary medicine.
This article, including input from Dr. James R. Richards, DVM of the Cornell Feline
Health Institute as well as distinguished member of the "Vaccine Associated Feline
Sarcoma Task Force", touches on such topics as:
* Vaccine-site sarcomas * Quarantine * Rabies and wildlife *
One-year vs. Three-year * Vaccine guidelines. |
With the kind permission of our friends at VetCentric.com,
we are very pleased to be able to share with you a new diagnostic product development
recently announced by Heska.
This article is an excellent summary of Heska's exciting new product which will further
empower companion animal lovers and veterinary professionals towards making the very best
decisions concerning the vaccination needs of their furry family's and clients.
"Feline ImmunCheck Assays" TM are
diagnostic tools to assist veterinarians in the determination of FPV-, FHV- and FCV
specific serum antibody levels. The tests can be used as an aid in the development
of a rational immunization strategy for adult cats (>2 years of age) with known
vaccination histories.
ImmunCheck was developed and evaluated through studies performed in collaboration with Dr. Michael Lappin, professor of clinical sciences at Colorado State University's veterinary college.
Dr. Lappin presented the results of his studies at the 2000 annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. |
Thanks to the kind support of Dr. C. Guillermo Couto, DVM,
Dip. ACVIM, we are very pleased to share with you his presentation titled "What Can I Do For My Cancer Patient and His/Her Owner?. Dr.
Couto, of the University of Ohio State, College of Veterinary
Medicine, presented this seminar at the 2000 North American Veterinary Conference,
held in Orlando Florida in January of 2000.
Dr. Couto is one of the nations most
distinguished veterinary oncologists whose research in the battle against VAS has earned
he and his organization much deserved acclaim.
One of the most difficult decisions for any companion animal lover or veterinary
professional is in having to decide just "what" if "any" path of
treatment to choose when their family member or client is diagnosed with cancer. You
will find Dr. Couto's presentation to be one of the most comprehensive assessments of the
many issues involved when faced with this difficult dilemma.
From the technical medical choices one faces, to "patient" and
"parent" care issues, we TRULY consider Dr. Couto's presentation a
"must" read for all animal lovers.
Our family would like to extend our most heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Couto for
taking the time out of his demanding schedule to assist us in our dear girls "effort
of education". |
University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine
Thanks to the kind assistance and permission of our friends at the University of
Pennsylvania, we are pleased to be able to share with you three fact filled articles
concerning VAS and the issue of feline vaccinations.
"Vaccine Associated Feline Sarcomas"
"Vaccinations--Should We Change the Protocol?"
"Feline Vaccinations--A Discussion"
Dr. Mattie Hendrick and her organization are to be applauded
for their continued efforts in the battle against VAS.
First published in the 1999
Spring/Summer issue of "Bellwether", the Newsmagazine of the School of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. |
Our family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Laura Garrett DVM and
Dr. Ruthanne Chun; DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Assistant Professor's of
Clinical Oncology at Kansas State University, College of Veterinary
Medicine.
Dr.'s Garrett and Chun have kindly shared with us one of the presentations, "Pitfalls of Vaccinations", which was included in a continuing
education seminar titled "Vaccinations in Small Animals:
Inject Yourself With Something New" presented by their
University on November 7th 1999.
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Thanks once again to the kind support and permission from our friends at "Fancy Publications", publishers of "Veterinary
Product News" (as well as numerous companion animal publications such as Cat
and Dog Fancy magazines), we are pleased to be able to share with you an article by David Congalton. This article, first published
in the December 1999 issue of "Veterinary Product News", includes a wealth of
information concerning the advances being made in the field of small animal vaccinations,
past, present and future.
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Thanks to Heather Lord, we are pleased to be able to share
with you one of the most comprehensive guides concerning VAS that we have ever encountered
along the course of our dear girls "effort of education".
Heather's professional experiences in veterinary medicine include six years of having
worked as a receptionist, technician and hospital manager. Heather chose the subject
of VAS for this 45 page technical report as a requirement for a technical writing class
which she is taking in her continuing education. There are two reasons why this
report is one of the very finest and most comprehensive summaries that we have ever
encountered. First of all, Heather's life long love of animals and passion towards
providing the very best veterinary healthcare, have inspired her to compose this
unprecedented factual perspective concerning VAS. Secondly, the list of veterinary
specialists Heather worked with to compose her report reads like a list of "who's who" in veterinary medicine.
Gregory Ogilvie, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Professor of
Oncology
- Dennis Macy, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM,
- Larry J. Swango, DVM, PhD, Professor of Virology at Auburn
University
- Felicia Neuman, DVM
- Jamie Molinelli, DVM
- Timothy Slajchert, DVM
- Kevin Doherty, VMD
- Steven Shipley, DVM
Edwin Kriel, DVM
Again, we truly consider this 45 page technical report one of the finest
compilations of information relating to VAS that we have ever encountered. If you
would like a hard copy of Heather's report, we'd be happy to mail you a complementary
copy, as Heather share's our belief that "knowledge is
empowering" and has given us permission to reproduce her report. Please
note that we have also included Heather's autobiography at the end of her report.
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Long-term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine.
This is one of the most recent studies to justify the FPV-FHV-FCV three year vaccination protocol.
This study further supports the recommendations of the AAFP / AFM and other
respected veterinary organizations and institutions.
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Feline Vaccination Schedules: Another Look
Dr. Dennis W. Macy, DVM, MS, Professor
Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Thanks to the continued kind assistance of Dr. Dennis Macy, we are able to
share with you this comprehensive assessment concerning the issue of feline vaccination
protocols. Dr. Macy is one of the nations leading and most respected experts in the
field of veterinary biomedical sciences, and more specifically, relating to the topic of
veterinary immunology. This article details the current debate concerning feline
vaccination protocols and does so by addressing scientific information on immunity and
disease pathogenesis relating to all current feline vaccinations. We encourage you to
print out a copy of Dr. Macy's article and discuss it with your veterinarian towards
developing the most effective and scientifically based vaccination protocol for your
feline children. |
We are pleased to be able to share with you the article "Feline
Sarcoma and Vaccination, a Roundtable on the Injection-Site Problem in Cats".
This "Meeting of the Minds" included many of the
leading veterinary professionals who are currently researching the issue of VAS. It
is to be noted that this Roundtable was made possible by an educational grant from Merial.
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Two more examples of progress taking place in the battle against VAS can be found linked
to these two articles published in the April 1st issue of the JAVMA.
Please be sure and hit the "back" button on your
browser, as these articles reside on the AVMA server and we wouldn't want you to miss out
on any of Sylvia's other "Timely Tidbits" of
information.
"Sarcoma task force makes
French Connection"
"Fibrosarcoma workshop held" |
Thanks to our dear friend Dick Weavil, publisher of the "AnimalTalk"
newsletter, we are pleased to be able to share with you a press release issued by the AAHA. This press release includes a comprehensive
"opinion paper" as issued by the AAHA concerning
the issue of feline and canine vaccination protocols. Included, you will also find a link
to a news article published in the November online issue of DVM News
Magazine. This article details information concerning the AVMA's intent of issuing new feline and canine vaccination
guidelines by July of 2001, the first change since 1989.
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On July 25, 1998, a symposium on vaccine site sarcomas in cats was held during the 135th
Annual meeting of the AVMA in Baltimore Md. During this Symposium, up to the minute
information on these tumors was presented by some of the leading veterinary researchers
from across the country. Topics included "historical review",
"pathogenesis", "etiology" and "treatment"
of the disease.
Below you will find a direct link to the above mentioned articles. We strongly believe
that "knowledge is empowering" and encourage you to
read this latest information concerning VAS authored by some of the most respected
professionals in the veterinary community.
Historical review and current knowledge of risk factors involved
in feline vaccine-associated sarcomas.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998 Nov 15;213(10):1422-3.
Review of treatment options for vaccine-associated feline sarcoma.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998 Nov 15;213(10):1426-7.
Feline vaccine-associated sarcomas: current studies on pathogenesis.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998 Nov 15;213(10):1425-6.
Etiology of feline vaccine-associated sarcomas: history and update.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998 Nov 15;213(10):1424-5. |
Colorado State University has recently changed
its Small Animal Vaccination Protocols and is to be commended for creating a vaccination
protocol based on medical science, not historical routine. We encourage you to read this
handout which answers some most commonly asked questions concerning their organizations
decision to update their vaccination protocols along with the pertinent veterinary
references justifying their decisions. |
We are very pleased to be able to share with you this article by E.Kathryn Meyer, VMD
concerning USP's summary of data relating to Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas. This article
confirms the fact that vaccine-associated sarcomas have been associated with the
administration of FVRCP as well as Rabies and FeLV vaccines.
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We are pleased to be able to share with you an update on Feline Vaccine-associated Soft
Tissue Sarcomas and Answers To Some Commonly Asked Questions by Dr. Leslie E. Fox, DVM, MS, Dip ACVIM
Associate Professor, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida Department of
Veterinary Medicine.
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We are pleased to share with you a press release detailing Heska's
new agreement with Iomai, a company that is developing a
process known as "Transcutaneous Immunization", a
"no-needle" procedure for veterinary as well as
human vaccinations.
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We are pleased to be able to share with you an article written by Dr.
Reneé Al-Sarraf, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM published in
the August 1998 issue of "Veterinary
Medicine". Dr. Al-Sarraf's "peer
reviewed" article is an excellent in-depth article concerning the history and battle
against VAS.
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Rest easy with the knowledge that a "triennial"
rabies vaccination protocol makes good medical sense and provides protection for your
human and animal family against the deadly rabies disease. Our family extends their warm
thanks to Dr. Dennis Macy of Colorado State University for sharing an article detailing
the medical science that justifies a "triennial"
rabies protocol replacing the "annual" rabies
protocol which is currently required by law in many states and communities.
Although Dr. Macy's article was written with respect to Denver's current rabies laws,
medical science and common sense apply to any community following an age old belief that
an "annual" rabies protocol is needed to protect
human and animal health.
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We are very pleased to be able to share with you the article "Update
on vaccine-associated sarcoma", written by Dr. Nancy W. Leveque. Published in
the June 1st JAVMA, Dr. Leveque's article details Dr. Barbara Kitchell's (University of Illinois and member of the VAFSTF) update of VAFSTF
news which she presented at the AAHA's 65th annual meeting.
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For one of the most comprehensive lists of Bibliographic References relating to this
dreaded disease, just use the link above to view a list of references compiled by the Vaccine Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force.
Knowledge is empowering and we'd love to hear from anyone who has come across published
information relating to this disease so that we could share it with all of our feline
loving followers.
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Has The Time Come For A Veterinary Vaccine Injury Act ?
Dr. Dennis W. Macy, DVM, MS President-Elect and
Diplomate ACVIM - Oncology has been so kind to share with us and all of our feline loving
friends, his idea and support for a "Veterinary
Vaccine Injury Insurance Program". Molded
similarly to the 1986 "Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act", this progressive program is not an
attempt to shift the responsibility for a choice, but rather to take responsibility when
given no choice concerning mandatory rabies vaccinations.
We strongly encourage you to use the link above to read and print out a copy of Dr. Macy's
proposed "Veterinary Vaccine Injury Insurance
Program" and share a copy with your
veterinarian as well. Dr. Macy has asked us to pass along to him any feedback which we
receive concerning his proposed legislation.
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I wanted to share with all of our feline loving friends the fact that Sylvia's dad carried
the message of her heartfelt journey to the U.S.D.A. APHIS
Veterinary Biologics Public Meeting which was held in Ames Iowa on September 23rd
and 24th 1998. During the course of this two day conference, several of the presentations
dealt with the subject of vaccine associated sarcomas, the new feline vaccination
protocols as well as the future of veterinary vaccines. With presenters such as Dr. David
Rosen of the AAFP, Dr. Donald Sawyer of the AVMA, and attendees such as Dr. Jim
Richards of the Cornell Feline Health Institute, as well as numerous other veterinary
professionals, this two day conference furthered my perspective of the complex issue of
veterinary vaccines. Although this type of "public"
meeting is held every 18 months, I can tell you that of the more than 200 attendees, I was
the "only" attendee representing the millions of companion animal lovers
nationwide. I assure you that my attendance and participation in the two networking
sessions opened some eyes, (and minds) and hopefully helped the U.S.D.A., along with the
pharmaceutical manufactures and veterinary researchers realize the need for a more direct and open line of communication and education concerning
the decisions which their organizations make involving the critical health care issues
involving our furry children.
The Journey Continues................ |
Our family would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to Dr.
Shawn Messonnier for taking the time out of his his busy practice to compose a summary of
his experience, as well as a holistic perspective concerning the issue of VAS and feline
vaccinations in general.
Dr. Shawn Messonnier, a 1987 graduate of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine,
opened Paws & Claws Animal Hospital in 1991. His special interests include exotic
pets, dermatology, and animal behavior. Dr. Messonnier is a well-known speaker and author.
In addition to serving clients, he is a regular contributor to several veterinary
journals, sits on the advisory board of the journal Veterinary Forum, serves as
Editor-In-Chief of the journal Exotic Pet Practice, and regularly consults with
veterinarians across the country. He shares his medical knowledge with pet owners each
week in his Friday newspaper column in the Plano Star Courier.
Dr. Messonnier recently opened the Acupuncture and Holistic Animal Health Care Center as a
part of Paws & Claws Animal Hospital. The Center's goal is to provide alternative
therapies such as acupuncture, nutritional therapies, and homeopathy to those clients who
desire an alternative to conventional medical care. Dr. Messonnier is the author of the
best selling Pet Care Naturally series of health guides published by Avery publishing, and
is the holistic columnist for Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy magazines.
Please be sure and visit Dr. Messonnier's wonderful web site "Pet Care Naturally", also linked from our
dear girls "Links from the Heart" page.
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