Question:
I'm undergoing chemotherapy, and when my white blood cell count went low I was told to stay away from babies who recently had the polio vaccine.I recently had my cat vaccinated for rabies and feline leukemia, etc., and was curious if I should have a similar concern with recently vaccinated animals. The vaccines my cat had were "killed" or "modified live." Are some "live"?.
C.M., Clovis, CA Apr 25, 2004
Answer:
I hope that the chemotherapy will help restore your health. You should also stay away from children and their teachers, and from any crowded and poorly ventilated public place.However, you need not worry about being around healthy animals since they do not carry the same kinds of viruses and bacteria that most often make us sick. The same holds true for their vaccinations, a few of which (like parvovirus vaccine) are briefly shed by recently vaccinated animals.Even so, you should wash your hands after petting and grooming your cat and before preparing food. Ideally, you should have someone else clean out the litter box, or you should wear gloves when you do so.If your cat is an indoor-outdoor feline, have her tested for toxoplasmosis (an infection caused by a parasite) because, with your compromised immune system, you are more susceptible.GOLDFISH IN MOURNINGPsychologist Dr. Emmanuel Bernstein writes: "A goldfish I knew had an obvious relationship with a parakeet (Pierre) who would visit her daily, pecking o
Subscribe