Vaccines are an important tool when it comes to preventing our cat from contracting highly contagious and potentially fatal diseases. Luckily, we have numerous vaccines and it is up to the vet to choose which ones are necessary for our cat.
In this article on our site we will talk about the pentavalent vaccine for cats. We will see what it is for, that is, what diseases it protects against, how often it is applied, what side effects we can expect and what its price is.
What is the pentavalent vaccine for cats used for?
The pentavalent vaccine for cats receives this name for its ability to protect them against five diseases In other words, with a single puncture we obtain a great protection. This information is important because, without losing effectiveness, the pentavalent vaccine saves costs and resources and, above all, saves the cat the stress of having to be pricked more than once.
Like all vaccines, the one known as pentavalent acts by stimulating the immune system so that it builds defenses against the pathogens that are presented to it. Specifically, the pentavalent vaccine protects against the following diseases:
- Rhinotracheitis: this is a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory tract and causes clinical signs such as runny nose and eyes or cough. It is caused by herpesviruses. The most serious cats can even die.
- Panleukopenia: it is one of the most feared viral pathologies. It causes severe vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration. It is triggered by parvoviruses and many affected cats do not outgrow the disease.
- Calicivirosis: is another disease that affects the respiratory tract. It is caused by calicivirus and its symptoms are similar to those of rhinotracheitis.
- Feline leukemia: this is a viral disease that worsens the general condition of the cat, causing a wide variety of clinical signs and the propensity to suffer from different diseases. There is no cure.
- Chlamydia: in this case it is a bacterium, chlamydia, which is responsible for this disease that causes eye discharge and can end up causing respiratory problems.
Does my cat need the pentavalent vaccine?
Only the vet can decidewhether or not your cat needs this vaccine. You have to know that some vaccines are considered essential for them, for everyone, regardless of their life circumstances. An example is those that protect against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis or calicivirosis.
Others, however, are optional and are only recommended for certain cats that are considered at risk. In this case are the vaccines against feline leukemia, although in kittens it may be essential, and chlamydiosis.
Therefore, a pentavalent vaccine contains components considered essential and others non-essential. That is why the veterinarian has to be the professional who, examining the circumstances of each cat, recommends or not this and any other vaccine. In addition, before vaccinating against feline leukemia it is recommended to test the cat to find out if he already has the disease or is he althy.
How often to give cats the pentavalent vaccine?
Just as only the vet can determine the appropriateness of giving your cat the pentavalent vaccine, he will be the one to decide when to give it. Usually kittens start to be vaccinated around eight weeks of age so that the defenses passed on to them by their mother do not interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine.
But a single dose is not enough to provide the cat with all the protection it needs. For this reason, about 3-4 weeks later it is necessary to revaccinate. From that moment on, the veterinarian may decide to repeat the dose every 15-30 days until the child reaches 16-18 weeks. Afterwards, the usual procedure is annual revaccination or every three years, since the protection offered by the pentavalent vaccine does not last the whole life of the cat.
Side effects of the pentavalent vaccine for cats
In general, vaccines do not cause any adverse reactions. There are some cats that during the first 24-48 hours after administration show listlessness, loss of appetite or even fever They usually recover on their own, without being necessary give them any treatment.
On the other hand, a reaction may occur at the point of inoculation It usually subsides in 1-2 weeks, but you have to know that in cats it can also cause a fibrosarcoma, although this is more common in vaccines against rabies and feline leukemia. Finally, a small percentage of cats may experience an allergic reaction In some cases it can be serious and require immediate veterinary attention.
Price of the pentavalent vaccine in cats
It is not possible to give a single price for the feline pentavalent vaccine, since, although there are reference amounts indicated by veterinary colleges, each professional is free to decide the price of their services. That is why we can find differences between the different clinics. Consequently, we can only indicate an approximate price for this vaccine, which would be around 50 euros
