Comments on: But enough about dogs: Let’s talk Cat Writers!

By: Dorene

Dorene — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:03:22 +0000

Okay, what’s the difference between a adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted vaccine? If I’m going to discuess this with my vet, I’d like to know a bit more. . .

Thanks!

By: Kim Thornton

Kim Thornton — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:13:38 +0000

Dr. Menardi and Dr. Jane Brunt, who was attending his presentation, both noted that vaccine sarcomas are rare—I think they estimated five to a dozen per year in a practice—but Dr. Menardi noted, of course, that if it’s your cat, the condition’s rarity isn’t much comfort.

Re his comment on frequency of vaccination (not giving them every year), it was related to new guidelines that now recommend vaccinations no more than every three years, unless circumstances dictate otherwise. Yes, it’s absolutely right that you should discuss which vaccines are needed depending on the cat’s lifestyle, risk factors and location of the country.

By: Owen Fisk

Owen Fisk — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:31:22 +0000

While the advise given about the vaccine is good it is also dangerous if we become over zealous against vaccine. The press and certain groups would make it sound like vaccine sacromas are epidemic. This is not true. If you get a group of veterinarians together and ask how many have seen these vaccine sacromas most have not. They are uncommon. The percentage of vaccinates cats that develop these is extremely low.

Important point to remember is that the number one medical procedure that has saved more human and animal lives is vaccinations. We don’t want to return to yesterday where feline leukemia is a weekly disease.

If the follow information is a statement is from Merial
“Non adjuvanted vaccines cost the same, and yet non adjuvanted vaccines only have 10% of the market right now” it is a false statement.These non adjuvanted vaccines are about 4 times higer that is why they only have a 10% market share. In addition there is not any good independent research to show they are really safer. This is Merial’s baby.

In fact Merial own researcher’s have reported cats that have develop sacromas to a whole variety of things including sterile saline and certain antibiotics.

Bottom line

It is important to discuss what vaccine are needed depending on the cat’s life style,risk factors and location the area of the country where a cat lives in with the veterinarian you trust

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:11:49 +0000

I can clarify. There are two organizations: The Dogs Writers Association of America and the Cat Writers Association.

The CWA got the really wonderful idea to host a writing conference a decade or so ago. The conference was so well-received that they invited the DWAA to come in as a sponsor, co-host, I’m not exactly sure what would be the official way to put it, but it’s kind of a joint conference now.

Since many people who write about pets belong to BOTH organizations, combining the conference and the topics works out well. There are several panels running at the same time, usually, so you can get more dog, more cat, more business of writing, etc., depending on your preference as an attendee.

Kim was president of the CWA for a few years, by the way, and she did a great job. I’ve been on the boards of both at one time or another, but am not currently a member of either.

I will also say that both organizations have over the years been very supportive of new pet-care communicators, helping to introduce them to mentors, editors, agents and so on. Each organization also sponsors an annual writing competition.

They’ve also been a source of some wonderful friendships. I met Kim through CWA/DWAA many years ago, along with my horse book co-author Audrey Pavia, who’s currently (or at least until recently) VP of the CWA. I’ve met many other wonderful writers, photographers and editors through the organizations.

Links for more info:

http://catwriters.org
http://dwaa.org

By: Feline

Feline — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:02:31 +0000

I’m curious… this was the Cat Writers’ Association meeting, yet it seems like at least half of the topics you discussed there were dogs?

I’m accustomed to the fact that this blog tends to talk dogs more than cats (I know that the bloggers have more dogs than they do cats in this group), but I was confused as I read this particular article and you were suddenly talking about dog breeds, dog dominance, dog bites. Is the Cat Writer’s Association really a generic pet writers group?

By: Pamela Picard

Pamela Picard — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:31:22 +0000

>> It’s recommended that vaccinations be given as low as possible on a hind leg. If cancer develops there, the leg can be amputated if necessary.<<

Dumb advice.

According to authoritative veterinarians and the AAFP, vaccinating in the leg does not make VAS curable.

A VAS is shaped like an octopus with many tentacles reaching out from the primary tumor. That is why it is practically impossible to completely remove the whole tumor surgically. That is why radiation is utilized to try to kill the parts that were not surgically removed.

A VAS between the shoulder blades is in a nasty place and difficult to remove because those tentacles can extend down under the scapulas and between the spinus processes where they cannot be removed.

Many cats who were vaccinated in the leg and subsequently developed a VAS and had the leg amputated and even part of the pelvis removed plus radiation have still had the VAS come back.

The recommendations of the AAFP to prevent VAS are:

1. Reduce the number of vaccines.
2. Use alternative methods of immunization like intranasal vaccines.
3. Avoid adjuvanted vaccines, which have been shown to be 5 times more likely to cause VAS.
ADJUVANT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO INDUCE MUTATIONS IN THE GENES (P53) THAT PREVENT CANCER.
(Non adjuvanted vaccines cost the same, and yet non adjuvanted vaccines only have 10% of the market right now)
4. Look for a lump at the vaccination site and if one persists have it removed BEFORE IT BECOMES CANCER!

If every Vet would do these four things VAS would be practically non existent.