RARE CAT TUMORS FROM
VACCINES
Many years ago,
when I started my career in veterinary medicine as a veterinary technician, I
remember being puzzled as to why we vaccinated cats in so many different
locations on their bodies. The rabies
vaccine was given in one leg, while the feline leukemia vaccine was given in
another leg, and the panleukopenia vaccine was given in yet another leg. When I was brave enough to ask why we
vaccinated cats this way, I was given my first taste of veterinary
oncology. It turns out that in about 1
out of every 10,000 cats, vaccines can cause something called
vaccine-associated sarcomas.
The notion that a
vaccine can cause a type of tumor is scary for cat owners. However, over the past 10-20 years, there has
been a lot of effort by the veterinary community to decrease this risk. Special task forces have been developed in an
effort to determine the best location to vaccinate your cat, how often to
vaccinate, and the safest vaccine. You
may have noticed that your veterinarian used to vaccinate your cat between the
shoulder blades and now they do it on a leg or on the tail. This practice was developed in order to make
it easier to treat a tumor if it occurred.
Some vaccines are administered every year, while others can be administered
every three years in an effort to decrease the risk of developing a
sarcoma. Vaccines, such as feline
leukemia virus, may only be given to your cat if your veterinarian feels that
your pet is at an increased risk of catching this virus.
Vaccine-associated
sarcomas can develop over weeks to years after a vaccine is administered. These tumors are thought to occur from
inflammation incited by the vaccine that causes these cells to divide. The best results for tumor control occur when
aggressive surgery and radiation therapy are combined. Cats that undergo this type of treatment can
be tumor free for approximately 2 years.
It is recommended that the tumor be removed by a board certified surgeon
since these can be extremely difficult to remove completely. In fact, advanced imaging, such as a CT scan
should be performed prior to any surgery to remove a vaccine-associated
sarcoma. A CT scan can show the extent
of the tumors in tissues that you cannot feel on the outside of your cat. If the tumor was not completely removed or if
you cannot pursue surgery and radiation therapy, there are other treatment
options. Injectable chemotherapy may
help prevent the tumor from growing back if it was not completely removed. Palladia, a medication approved for the
treatment of mast cell tumors in dogs, is currently being investigated for use
against vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats.
Preliminary results show that Palladia may slow the growth of this tumor
in cats.
The risk of
developing a tumor from a vaccine may be much less than your cat catching a
deadly virus that they could have been prevented with a vaccine. In fact, the rabies vaccine is required by
law for all dogs and cats. Please
discuss your cat’s vaccine needs with your regular veterinarian. It is also important to alert your
veterinarian to any masses you may feel when petting your cat at home, so they
can be addressed in a timely manner.
Blog by:
Karri Miller DVM, MS, DACVM (Oncology)
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
Dr. Karri Miller provides Skype and Phone consultations to families across the United States
whose pets have been diagnosed with cancer. As a Board Certified
Oncologist, she will be able to provide your family with information
about cancer, treatment options, and expectations.
Blog originally prepared for the Lakeland Ledger (Florida)
Posted by Vet Mary Gardner
