Why are vaccinations important?

All cats and dogs are at risk of exposure to various infectious diseases, even if they spend most of their time indoors. Some infectious diseases are life-threatening while others, like rabies, also pose a public health risk. Vaccination to prevent common infectious diseases supports the first goal of medicine—disease prevention. Prevention of infectious disease is more beneficial to your pet than treating disease once it occurs. Once vaccinated your pets natural immune system helps eliminate viral and bacterial infections. Thus, preventive vaccination is one of the most reliable and cost-effective methods of health care available to a pet owner.

How does vaccination work?

Vaccines contain killed or modified live forms of viruses or bacteria. They stimulate production of protective antibodies in immunocumpetnet animals that neutralize the natural virus or bacteria if the animal is later exposed. Although vaccines provide protection against infectious disease, they do not treat or cure existing diseases. Some vaccines contain combinations of viruses or bacteria that immunize against several diseases.

Why do puppies and kittens require more frequent vaccinations than older dogs and cats?

Nursing puppies and kittens ingest immunizing antibodies from their mother. These maternal antibodies provide early protection against infectious disease. However, they also neutralize the immunizing agents in vaccines. Maternal antibodies naturally decline during the first 3 to 4 months of life and eventually disappear. For this reason, puppies and kittens need regular vaccination to provide protection as soon as maternal antibody levels have declined below protective levels.

What about the potential risks of vaccination?

The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the relatively small risk of vaccine-related adverse effects. Allergic reactions to vaccination and local, injection-site irritation are uncommon, but they do occur. On rare occasions, cats may develop tumors (fibrosarcomas) at the site of injection, including vaccines or even bite wounds. Your veterinarian can advise you of the possible risks associated with vaccination and the steps to take if vaccine-related reactions occur.

Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded mammals, including cats, dogs, wildlife and humans. The virus infects cells of the nervous system, producing in coordination and behavioral abnormalities, such as unusual aggression or withdrawal. Once the signs of rabies appear, the disease is always fatal. Rabies is usually transmitted by bite wounds, often from infected wildlife, which represent the largest reservoir of the disease in the U. S. Vaccines are very effective in preventing rabies. Most states in the U. S. require rabies vaccination of dogs at 1 to 3-year intervals. Many states also require rabies vaccination of cats.

Also known as feline distemper, feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious, often fatal disease of cats. The disease is caused by a parvovirus transmitted by contact with infected cats, their feces or environmental contamination. The virus is highly resistant and capable of surviving in the environment for months. Kittens without prior vaccination or exposure are most susceptible. Signs of acute infection include fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain, tremors and in coordination.

Canine Distemper

Canine distemper is a widespread, high-mortality viral disease of dogs. Exposure is considered inevitable during a dog’s lifetime, so canine distemper vaccination is almost always recommended. Puppies and young dogs without immunity are at greatest risk. Canine distemper virus infects various tissues in the dog’s body, producing diarrhea, fever, nasal and ocular discharge, respiratory disease, appetite loss and neurologic signs such as muscular spasms and paralysis. The disease is easily transmitted and often fatal.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis

Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), is a worldwide disease of dogs. CAV-1 infects a wide range of tissues, including the liver (hence the name hepatitis), kidneys, spleen and lungs. Infected dogs typically develop a fever, bleeding of gums and soft tissue, and experience loss of white blood cells that are a key component of the immune system. Opacity of the eye (“blue eye”) occurs in come cases. Death, chronic hepatitis, or severe illness may occur, and recovery may be gradual in not-fatal cases. CAV_1 is shed in urine, and can survive outside the host for weeks or months.

Canine Enteritis (Diarrhea, Vomiting)

Dogs are at risk of enteritis (intestinal disease) caused by two common viruses, canine parvovirus and canine coronavirus. Canine parvovirus enteritis is generally considered to be more severe than coronavirus enteritis. However, parvovirus enteritis may be more serious if coronavirus is also present. Diarrhea and vomiting caused by these viruses can range from mild to severe, and are accompanied by depression and loss of appetite. Unvaccinated puppies and young dogs are most commonly affected because they usually have not been previously exposed or vaccinated and are susceptible to infection. Viral enteritis is easily spread because of the large volume of virus in feces, which contaminates the environment and is readily spread from one animal to another. Severe cases of viral enteritis can be fatal due to dehydration and loss of appetite. Puppies are at greatest risk of death because of their limited body reserves.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection resulting from contact with infected wildlife, urine from infected dogs, or contaminated water or food. Leptospira bacteria infect the kidneys and liver, causing fever, anorexia, depression and generalized pain. Several types of Leptospira bacteria can infect dogs. Your veterinarian can advise you on which types to vaccinate against. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans by contact with breaks in the skin or mucous membranes.

Infectious respiratory disease is a troublesome problem in dogs because it is easily transmitted in the air or by direct contact, especially in kennels or among dogs living together. Upper respiratory disease can limit the dog’s activity, and progress to pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.

The most common causes of respiratory infections in dogs include canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), canine parainfluenza virus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. CAV-2 is closely related to CAV-1, the cause of infectious canine hepatitis (ICH). For this reason, CAV-2 vaccines provide dual protection against both ICH and respiratory disease caused by CAV-2. Infectious tracheobronchitis (“kennel cough” or “canine cough”) is a persistent respiratory disease with a harsh, dry cough, often caused by viral infection complicated by Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Feline Respiratory Disease

The great majority of feline respiratory diseases results from two easily transmitted infections, feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), caused by a herpesvirus and feline calicivirus (FCV) infection. FVR and FCV infection result in similar illnesses, characterized by nasal and ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, ulcers of the oral cavity, anorexia, depression and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

Cats usually recover in 1 to 2 weeks, although cats with FVR can become persistently infected after returning to normal, shedding the virus during periods of stress. FVR can result in abortion of infected fetuses. Kittens are at greatest risk of FVR and FCV because they usually have had no prior vaccination or exposure and are highly susceptible to infection. Chlamydia psittaci bacteria are a less common cause of feline respiratory disease, but can increase the severity of FVR or FCV infection. Vaccines are available for FVR, FCV and Chlamydia psittaci.

FIV attacks a cat’s immune system, producing a slow-developing immunodeficiency disease that results in chronic secondary and opportunistic infections. These include respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary tract and skin infections, and general unthriftiness. Various cancers may also develop. FIV infection is life long and is fatal although some cats remain normal for extended periods until immunodeficiency occurs.

Feline leukemia is a high-mortality disease caused by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FeLV produces an initial immunosuppressive infection followed by various other diseases (e.g., respiratory disease, diarrhea, anemia) affecting the immunosuppressed cat. Cats that survive these initial diseases may develop come form of cancer, hence the name feline leukemia. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with infected cats or with contaminated food dishes or litter boxes. Feline leukemia vaccination is now commonplace.

Vaccination is the key to protecting your dog and cat against these diseases. Visit Dr. Beisswenger regularly to keep your cats and dogs vaccinations up to date, and for routine physical examinations that can help detect potential health problems early. These preventive measures will help assure the best quality of life for your pet companion-your friend for life!!!

Please call us if you have any questions or what to make an appointment.

Dr. Linda Beisswenger, Lea Canada, Rennie Bodien and Micki Adelsberger attended The Central Veterinary Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Everyone learned a lot.

At Hope Animal Hospital we are committed to keeping our knowledge base and skills up to date to provide your pet the best care.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PHIZER.