5 Reasons to Vaccinate Your Pet
1) Vaccinations prevent many pet illnesses.
2) Vaccinations can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented.
3) Vaccinations prevent diseases that can be passed between animals and also from animals to people.
4) Diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper, can infect unvaccinated pets.
5) In many areas, local or state ordinances require certain vaccinations of household pets.
Vaccines for Dogs
Which vaccines should pets receive?
When designing a vaccination program, veterinarians consider the pet’s lifestyle, related disease risks, and the characteristics of available vaccines. “Core vaccines” (e.g., rabies, feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus infection, canine distemper, canine parvovirus infection, and canine hepatitis) are recommended for most pets. Additional “non-core vaccines” (e.g., feline leukemia, canine kennel cough and other vaccines) may be appropriate based on the pet’s particular needs.
What should I expect after my pet’s vaccination?
It’s common for pets to experience some mild side effects after receiving a vaccine. You should talk with your veterinarian about what to expect after vaccination, and be sure to inform him or her if your pet has had prior reactions to any vaccine or medication. More serious, but less common side effects, such as allergic reactions, can be life-threatening and are medical emergencies. Seek veterinary care immediately if any of these signs develop:
▶️ Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
▶️ Itchy skin that may seem bumpy (“hives”)
▶️ Swelling of the muzzle and around the face, neck, or eyes
▶️ Severe coughing or difficulty breathing
▶️ Collapse
Are there risks associated with vaccination?
Vaccines have protected millions of animals from illness and death caused by infectious diseases. All medical procedures, however, carry with them some risk. Fortunately, in the case of vaccination, serious adverse responses are very infrequent. Veterinarians minimize risk by carefully selecting vaccines on the basis of a pet’s individual needs and by choosing appropriate injection sites. In an effort to find ways to prevent even these limited numbers of adverse responses from occurring, the AVMA is working with government and industry to redefine how information regarding adverse responses is gathered, analyzed, and disseminated.
Core Vaccines for Dogs
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs.
Puppies and dogs most often become infected through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) to the virus from an infected dog or wild animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months, and mother dogs can pass the virus through the placenta to their puppies.
Canine Parvovirus
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that can affect all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than four months old are the most at risk… The virus affects dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts and is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated feces (stool), environments, or people. The virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs.
Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by Leptospira bacteria. All dogs are at risk of leptospirosis, regardless of age, breed, lifestyle, geographic location, time of year, and other factors. Leptospirosis is most often spread through the urine of an infected animal, especially (but not only) wild rodents. Infected dogs can seem healthy but still pass Leptospira bacteria in their urine. Some infected dogs have a mild, transient illness and recover on their own, while others develop a severe, life-threatening illness. Leptospirosis is generally treated with antibiotics and supportive care. Dogs with severe disease may need intensive care measures such as oxygen therapy, mechanical breathing support, or dialysis.
*At Peninsula Pet Hospital, we use a combination vaccine (DHPP) that protects against Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parvovirus, and +/- Parainfluenza
To reduce injections and owner cost, we further combine DHPP with our Leptospirosis vaccine (DHLPP) if both are given on the same visit.
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Less commonly, rabies can be transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut on the skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal. Once the outward signs of the disease appear, rabies is nearly always fatal.
Other Vaccines for dogs: Bordetella/Kennel Cough, Canine Influenza, Lyme, Rattlesnake
Core Vaccines for Cats
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Less commonly, rabies can be transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut on the skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal. Once the outward signs of the disease appear, rabies is nearly always fatal.
Feline Panleukopenia
In the past, feline panleukopenia (FP) was a leading cause of death in cats. Today, it is an uncommon disease, due in large part to the availability and use of very effective vaccines. The disease is also called feline distemper or feline parvo.
Feline panleukopenia (FP) is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus. Kittens are most severely affected by the virus. The names feline distemper and feline parvo should not be confused with canine distemper or canine parvo— although their names are similar, they are caused by different viruses.
*At Peninsula Pet Hospital, we use a combination vaccine (FVRCP) that protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Feline Calicivirus (C), and Feline Panleukopenia (P)
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline leukemia virus infection is mainly spread through saliva when cats groom each other and share food and water bowls. When first exposed to FeLV, a cat might not show any signs of illness and some clear the virus completely from their body. Other cats are able to control the infection, preventing illness. In some the infection will become active in their body and develop problems such as low red blood cells (anemia) or
cancer. These problems can be severe and even fatal. There are no treatments that will get rid of the infection.
Vaccination is recommended for all kittens, again one year later, and regularly for cats that have access outdoors. Adult indoor-only cats living alone or with uninfected cats may not need to be vaccinated after the first 2 years.
Information above provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) – follow the link below to learn more:
Follow the links below to view the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) vaccine guidelines (canine guidelines updated in 2024):
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