Below is an overview of the most commonly used vaccines and why they are needed. Please remember that where you live and the life style of your pet plays a BIG part in what vaccines you should be giving them.
CANINE
Rabies Vaccine
This vaccine is the ONLY vaccine that is mandatory, by law, throughout New York State. The Rabies virus can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids of an infected animal, usually via bite wound. This virus, if contracted, is usually FATAL and spreads very quickly. The initial vaccine is given to a pet 6 months of age or older and lasts one year. Rabies booster vaccines after that first year then need to be boostered every THREE years.
Distemper/Adeno Virus Type 2/Canine Parvovirus/Parainfluenza (DA2PP) Vaccine
This vaccine protects your pet against four different types of viruses. All four can be fatal, yet are easily preventable with this one simple vaccine.
Symptoms of Distemper/Adeno Virus Type 2 are as follows; gooey occular and nasal discharge, fever (which often comes and goes unnoticed), poor appetite, coughing and possible development of pneumonia. As the virus progresses, it affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting and diarrhea, and then leads to neurological symptoms, such as seizures and tremors.
Symptoms of Parvovirus - Currently, it is primarily a cause of severe illness and death for puppies and adolescent dogs and fortunately, vaccinations an effective route of prevention (if performed on the proper schedule)
Symptoms of Parainfluenza - Severe upper respiratory infections that usually leads to pneumonia and possibly death if not treated.
Bordetella Vaccine
This vaccine is recommended if your dog comes in contact with a variety of other dogs. Bordetella (also known as "Kennel Cough") is highly contagious. The most frequent places that this virus can be contracted are the kennel, grooming facilities, dog parks, boardwalk, puppy/training classes, etc. There is an initial vaccine that is given, and then a booster is given 2 weeks prior to any other dog contact.
Leptospirosis Vaccine
Do you have raccoons, squirrels, or possums where you live? If so, does your dog go outside? Even if they only go into your own personal backyard, those pesky critters still manage to find a way into your back yard. Dogs become infected by leptospires when an open skin wound comes into contact with infected urine or with water contaminated with infected urine. Bite wounds, reproductive secretions, and even consumption of infected tissues can transmit this infection. The organisms quickly spread through the bloodstream leading to fever, joint pain, and general overall sickness/depression that can last up to a week. The organism settles in the kidneys and begins to reproduce, leading to further inflammation and then kidney failure. Depending on the type of leptospire involved, other organ failure (especially liver) can be expected as well. Leptospirosis is a life-threatening disease that people can contract and get themselves as well!
Lyme Vaccine
The Lyme vaccine is recommended for dogs that live in areas with a HIGH TICK population. Such examples of high risk areas are: Connecticut, Upstate NY, East Long Island, Westchester, beach communities, etc. Lyme disease is spread through a bite of an infected tick. The vaccine should be boostered annually for full protection from this disease.
Feline
Rabies Vaccine
This vaccine is the ONLY vaccine that is mandatory, by law, throughout New York State. The Rabies virus can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids of an infected animal, usually via bite wound. This virus, if contracted, is usually FATAL and spreads very quickly. The initial vaccine is given to a pet 6 months of age or older and lasts one year. Rabies booster vaccines after that first year then need to be boostered every THREE years.
Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia) Vaccine
Feline distemper, caused by a parvovirus, is a life-threatening disease. Virtually every cat will be exposed to this virus. Infection occurs when the virus enters the body through the mouth or nose. Whether illness results or not depends on the immunity in the victim vs. the number of individual virus particles entering the body. Prevention is recommended to be started as early as 8 weeks of age with the Distemper vaccine.
Feline Leukemia Vaccine
Feline Leukemia is the cause of more cat deaths, directly or indirectly, than any other organism and is widespread in the cat population. In order to decide if your cat should be vaccinated, you must look at his or her lifestyle. For instance, are they the only cat in the house? Are they strictly in-doors? Does your cat go outside as well as inside? Transmission is through the saliva of infected cats contaminating the eye, mouth, and nose membranes of non-infected cats via licking/biting, passing infected blood to non-infected cats, and in utero (from mother to fetuses). Unfortunatley, there is no effective treatment for this disease. Treatment is mainly supportive, and may require blood transfusions, prednisone, and anabolic steroids. Eighty-five percent of cats with FeLV infection die within 3 years of the diagnosis.
There are more vaccines out there..but in my opinion these are the core vaccines that are usually given to our pets. If you would like information on the other vaccines, I would be happy to write more about the others. Please feel free to comment!
Next blog coming up...post operative care for your furry friends!
Until next time!
Rachel, LVT
"The Visiting Vet Tech"TM
