Recommended Immunizations and Preventatives
Regular vaccines for your pet are a time-tested, safe, and critical step to keep both you and your pet healthy. Preventative medication is used to control parasites that can carry disease or cause problems directly. Vaccines and Preventatives are important even for exclusively indoor pets with limited travel outside the home. Infections can come from unexpected sources and can potentially be deadly for your pet or spread to other animals or humans. Many common issues can be prevented with a combination vaccine. Our veterinarians generally recommend vaccines and preventatives to control these diseases but will review each patient during the exam to create an individual plan. Below is a cross section of common diseases and issues vaccines and preventatives address. Some affect both cats and dogs and some are species-specific:
- Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of dogs, cats, livestock and even humans. Rabies is a significant health hazard and nearly 100% fatal. For this reason, an up-to-date Rabies vaccine is almost always required by law.
- Distemper is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. Dogs are the primary carriers of the disease, and it spreads via droplets from the nose and mouth, such as through sneezing or coughing. It can cause dry cough, eye and nose discharge, diarrhea, shaking, chewing movements, confusion, seizures, and death. There is no specific treatment for distemper virus in dogs, only supportive care which makes prognosis highly variable.
- Hepatitis is a liver disease spread animal-to-animal via urine, feces and other fluids. Hepatitis can cause fever, bloody nose, pain in abdomen, and in severe cases, death. The vaccination is highly effective and it’s rare to see cases in fully vaccinated pets.
- Leptospirosis (Lepto) is a bacteria found in surface water and urine that also affects the liver and kidneys and can infect all mammals including humans. Lepto can cause vomiting, excessive urination, diarrhea, fever, and death. Dogs become infected when irritated or cut skin comes into contact with infected urine or water contaminated with infected urine. If they recover, pets infected with leptospirosis often have chronic, lifelong complications such as kidney disease or uveitis.
- Parainfluenza is a non-life-threatening respiratory virus that can cause coughing in dogs. Without the vaccine dogs can suffer with the infection for days or weeks.
- Parvovirus is a serious gastrointestinal disease spread through fecal matter. It can survive in the environment for months or years. The disease can cause depression, vomiting, fever, bloody diarrhea, shock, and death.
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus) is a common respiratory disease in cats. Even when successfully treated it can cause lifelong issues with reoccurring infections triggering fever, sneezing, congestion, eye and nose discharge, and swollen eyes.
- Feline Calicivirus (FCV) is a contagious respiratory disease that can be mild and transient, or severe and life-threatening. Signs include swollen eyes, eye and nose discharge, sneezing, appetite loss, oral ulcers, and drooling.
- Panleukopenia is a highly contagious, severe gastrointestinal disease in cats. It can cause fever, depression, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and sudden death. The vaccination is highly effective, and no specific treatment currently exists leading to a high mortality for infected pets.
- Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is a retroviral disease of the immune system that can leave cats susceptible to secondary infections for life as well as higher risks of severe condition such as cancer. Prognosis is highly variable and clinical signs vary depending on class of infection. Protection is important because there are usually no signs of FeLV infection until a secondary disease appears.
- Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) is a contagious respiratory disease that often spreads to other dogs at daycare, boarding facilities, dog shows, parks, and pet stores. Signs of CIRD include a dry, hacking cough and retching. This is a disease complex that can be caused by many infectious organisms and lead to severe disease such as pneumonia. The Bordetella vaccination targets one of the more common pathogens and may be administered via injection, orally, or nasally.
- Canine Influenza (CIV or “Dog Flu”) is a contagious respiratory disease comparable to human flu strains (but not seasonal like the human flu). Like human flu, it has a vaccine that can help prevent the disease or lessen symptoms.
- Heartworms are parasitic organisms that can easily affect dogs and occasionally cats. Foot-long heartworms can number in the hundreds and cause heart and lung disease that can manifest as a cough, fatigue, weight loss, and can lead to cardiovascular collapse and death. The disease is spread via bites from infected mosquitos and is easily prevented with a monthly preventative medication.
Round- and Hook Worms are parasitic organisms that live in the intestines. These worms can cause GI symptoms such as, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. These parasites can also be zoonotic, meaning they can also infect humans in close contact. - Fleas are carriers of disease that can reproduce rapidly and spread to other animals. Fleas can cause itching, hair loss, and spread secondary disease.
- Ticks can carry and spread bacterial infections. Lyme Disease is one of the infections carried by a specific tick species. Tiny ticks can be in any outdoor environment and can cause difficult-to-diagnose symptoms including lameness, anorexia, depression, organ failure, fever, stiffness, and joint pain.
