Dogs And The Myths About Them
Consult Your Vet Instead Of Searching The Internet
So let's talk about the current hot button issue! Why vaccinate and what exactly am I vaccinating against?
Every vaccination needs to booster and there is a certain age that your dog has to be in order to receive each of the vaccines.
Core - The reason these are core vaccines is because they are highly contagious and can be fatal.
Canine:
-Rabies (early as 16 weeks old, 1 year, then every 3 years) - We all know about Rabies and it is a core vaccine not only because of the above reason, but also because it's the law. It causes neurological issues and can be passed onto people via saliva, spinal tissue, and brain matter.
-Distemper(DHPP) (starting at 8wks, then 11wks, and 14wks, 1 year, then every 3 years) - When we say Distemper vaccine, we actually mean a combination vaccine which includes Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza.
Distemper can affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurology systems. It usually harms puppies and unvaccinated dog and there is unfortunately no cure.
Hepatitis/Adenovirus affects the eyes, kidneys, but especially the liver.
Parvovirus is a terrible gastrointestinal disease that causes diarrhea, vomiting, and severe dehydration.
Parainfluenza is a virus that affects the upper respiratory tract and causes flu-like symptoms.
Feline:
-Rabies - same as canine rabies
-Distemper(FVRCP) - This is yet another combination vaccine that we often abbreviate by saying Distemper for short.
Feline viral rhinotracheitis and
Calicvirus are both upper respiratory infections.
Panleukopenia is considered the "distemper" portion of the vaccine. It destroys the intestines, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. It is hard to be treated and even harder to diagnose as it looks like so many other diseases.
Non-Core
Dog:
-Lyme (yearly starting around 12 weeks)- We typically recommend this vaccine to pets that are going to be hiking or in the woods where ticks will be prevalent. Lyme disease causes similar effects that it does in humans, such as muscle pain and lameness.
-Lepto (yearly starting around 12 weeks) - Leptospirosis
is spread through contaminated urine in the water, which is why we recommend this vaccine if your pet is going to be around still-standing wild water. It affects kidneys, liver, eyes, and the neurologic system.
-Bordetella (semi-annually or yearly starting around 12 weeks) - This vaccine is to prevent the
air-borne, contagious disease of kennel cough. We recommend getting this vaccine when your dog is going to be around a lot of dogs in a crowded area such as a grooming or boarding facility.
-Influenza (yearly starting around 12 weeks) - This virus is the one that you have most recently been hearing about in the news. It causes similar signs to the human flu virus which is also why there are multiple strands of it. This vaccine, like Bordetella, is recommend if your dog is going to be around other dogs in crowded situations, including dog parks.
Cat:
-Leukemia - If you cat goes outdoors, they are at risk of getting leukemia virus if they come in contact with another cat's nasal secretions or saliva. The virus causes immunodeficiency that could lead to cancer.
Moral of the story: Vaccinate your pets! It's easier/cheaper/less fatal to prevent than to treat!
