Is it safe to vaccinate my senior 15-year-old cat for distemper?

Yes, it should be fine if you need to wait a little bit to give a booster vaccine, especially if your cats have been kept up to date on all of their vaccines prior to this. If you are unsure you can wait, your vet can also perform a titer test to check for antibodies, or can let you know if you are on a one-year or three-year vaccine schedule.

No, he isn't too old to be vaccinated. A rabies vaccine can be given and boosted in 1 year, then every 3 years. The distemper/parvovirus combination (DHPP) can be given, then boosted in 4 weeks. After that, it can be yearly or every 3 years depending on the vaccine. Other vaccines, given based on risk of exposure, include Bordatella, Leptospirosis, Lyme and Canine Influenza. Discuss these as well as monthly heartworm, parasite, flea and tick preventatives. Consider having Fatty neutered as well.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Did Misty receive her full protocol of kitten vaccinations? Starting at 8-10 weeks, she should have received a feline distemper vaccine every 3-4 weeks for a full set of three vaccinations. If she did not receive those, then she would need to restart a vaccine protocol appropriate for her age as directed by her regular veterinarian. If she received her vaccines as a kitten, then she would receive a booster every 1-3 years as directed by your regular veterinarian.

Feline distemper can last years in the envirom=nment. In order for your cats to be as safe as they can be, they need to complete their series of vaccinations. Since they are adults, that means they need two vaccinations given 3-4 weeks apart for maximum immunity benefits. I would get them both vaccinated again, then repeat it in 3-4 weeks, THEN I might consider letting them back into your bedroom, as long as everything possible inside it has been disinfected with a 1:32 solution of household bleach and water.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Cheeky. I still recommend vaccinating older pets as they are more susceptible to disease due to weakened immune systems. I would ask her veterinarian for a mild sedative such as gabapentin to relax her for transport. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jimmy. I do recommend that he is current on all his vaccines before bringing a new kitten into the home. Personally, I have not seen vaccines cause kidney problems in cats. So I do not believe this is a reason not to vaccinate him. However, his veterinarian will know his complete medical history and can give you more detailed advice. I hope this information helps!

Most unvaccinated, adult dogs can receive a vaccination for distemper once they are, healthy, normal and not ill. She will need two vaccines given 3 weeks apart to set the proper immunity levels. Unless she has an ongoing chronic condition like an autoimmune condition or a blood borne parasite, most pets will not be immune compromised in general but I cannot answer that question for you without knowing her full history. I recommend to call the veterinarian who took care of Chutki last year and ask if she is immune compromised in anyway. Make sure to ask if it is safe to vaccinate her. Chutki's hair loss could be several things including allergies, endocrine disease, parasites, hormonal changes, poor diet or the normal twice yearly shedding of the coat. The only way to figure out the cause is to have her examined by your veterinarian. You can rule out parasites by using an oral medication like Simparica. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Having her spayed can also help to regulate her hormones. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.