Vaccine FAQ and General Information

WHY DO BABY ANIMALS NEED A SERIES OF SHOTS AND HOW MANY DO THEY NEED?

When a baby kitten or puppy is born, its immune system is not yet mature; the baby is wide open for infection.  Fortunately, nature has a system of protection.  The mother produces special milk in the first few days.  This milk is called colostrum and is rich in all the antibodies that the mother has to offer.  As the babies drink this milk, they will be taking in their mother’s immunity.  After the first couple of days, regular milk is produced and the baby’s intestines undergo what is called closure, which means they no longer are able to take antibodies into their systems.  These first two days are critical in determining what kind of immunity the baby will receive until its own system can take over.

How long this maternal antibody lasts in a given puppy is totally individual.  It can depend on the birth order of the babies, how well they nursed, and a number of other factors.  Maternal antibodies against different diseases wear off after different times.  We DO know that by 16 to 20 weeks of age, maternal antibodies are gone and the baby must be able to continue on its own immune system.

While maternal immunity is present in the puppy’s system, any vaccines given will be inactivated.  Vaccines will not be able to take until maternal antibody had sufficiently dropped.  Puppies and kittens receive a series of vaccines ending at a time when we know the baby’s own immune system should be able to respond.  We could simply wait until the baby is old enough to definitely respond as we do with the rabies vaccination but this could leave a large window of vulnerability if the maternal antibody wanes early.  To give babies the best chance of responding to vaccination, we vaccinate intermittently (usually every 3 weeks) during this period in hope of gaining some early protection.

When a vaccine against a specific disease is started for the first time, even in adult animal, it is best to give at least two vaccinations.  This is because the second vaccination will produce a much greater (logarithmically greater) response if it is following a vaccine given 3 weeks prior.

IF A VACCINE LASTS A PERSON HIS OR HER OWN WHOLE LIFE, WHY DO I HAVE TO VACCINATE MY PET ANNUALLY?

In this country, vaccines are licensed based on the minimum duration they can be expected to last.  It is expensive to test vaccines across an expanse of years and it is not generally done.  We know our vaccines last at least one year and have not been willing to take a chance on whether they might last longer without knowing for sure.

It is also important to realize that some diseases lend themselves to prevention through vaccination while others do not.  For a vaccine to generate solid long-lasting immunity, the infection must be fairly generalized to the entire body (like distemper or parvovirus) rather than localized to one organ system (like kennel cough or feline upper respiratory viruses).  Vaccination for localized infections tend to require more frequent boosting whereas there is potential for vaccination for systemic disease to last for many years.

Recently, several veterinary teaching hospitals have restructured their vaccination policies to increase the duration of some vaccines from 1 year to 3 years.  Many private veterinarians are following those guidelines for these vaccines.  The important thing to realize is that this kind of extension is not possible in all situations for all vaccines.

WHAT VACCINES SHOULD I GET FOR MY PET?

What vaccines are recommended to an individual pet depend on many factors; what kind of exposure to disease does the animal have, what diseases are common in the area, what kind of stress factors are present, etc.  When one considers the multitudes of vaccine types and combinations and the many different situations dogs and cats live within, it is not too surprising to find that almost every veterinarian recommends a different group of vaccines.  The best advice is to hook up with a veterinarian that you trust and go with their recommendation.

WHAT VACCINES SHOULD I GET IF MY PET IS INDOORS ALMOST COMPLETELY?

For cats, we consider the basic distemper shot (FVRCP) and the rabies vaccine important for all cats, as does the American Association of Feline Practitioners.  The leukemia vaccine would be recommended if there is a real chance that an owner will bring home a stray kitten to care for.

We feel that rabies vaccination is important for every cat as one never knows under what circumstances a cat will bite someone.  If a cat bites, the government agencies determine the fate of that cat based in part on its rabies vaccination history.  Even if a cat does not go outside where it might contact a skunk or raccoon and even if the owner is positive that no bats are living indoors, we feel this extra insurance is worth having.

For primarily indoor dogs, we recommend the basic distemper/parvo combination, rabies vaccination, and kennel cough vaccination.  One never knows when one will be bringing a dog to the vet (even if the dog never goes to a groomer or boarding facility) and anytime a dog is in a room with other dogs, kennel cough is a risk.

CAN A PREGNANT PET BE VACCINATED?

It is important that live vaccines NOT be use in pregnant pets.  This is because a modified virus that will not cause illness in the mother, may still be strong enough to infect the unborn puppies or kittens.  Killed vaccines (like Rabies) may be given during pregnancy though, as a general rule, it is best not to give any medical treatments during pregnancy if it can be avoided.

CAN I GIVE VACCINES MYSELF?

It is physically possible to give vaccines yourself if you know how to give a subcutaneous injection.  In many areas pet vaccines are considered over-the-counter medications and you can get them from your local feed store.  We do not recommend this practice for the following reasons:

• It may be difficult for you to properly dispose of the needles.
• If there is any type of acute allergic reaction, you will not be prepared to address it.
• In the cat, there are specific guidelines regarding where vaccines should be placed.  This makes the process trickier with uncooperative cats.  You may get bitten.
• You may not keep records of vaccination in order should proof of vaccination be needed.  Facilities requiring proof of vaccination may be unwilling to accept you own word that your pet is vaccinated adequately.

WHAT IS A HIGH TITER PARVO VACCINE?

A high titer parvo vaccine is a type of modified live vaccine which uses an especially large amount of virus to stimulate the immune system.  The most important advantage of this new type of vaccine is its ability to produce strong immunity in puppies at an earlier age than was previously possible.  Regular modified live vaccine is considered able to produce immunity by 16 weeks of age with another 5 % or so of puppies becoming immune if vaccination is continued through age 20 weeks.  The high titer vaccines appear able to reliably produce immunity by 12 weeks of age, though many hospitals (including ours) use them though age 16 weeks to ensure good immunity.  High titer vaccines are considered to be state of the art.

CAN VACCINES HURT MY PET?

The fibro sarcoma is an especially aggressive form of cancer that can affect cats spontaneously or by viral induction via the feline sarcoma virus.  Fibro sarcomas have been removed from areas of the body typically used for vaccination and, to the surprise of the veterinary profession, particles of aluminum based vaccine ingredients (called adjuvants) were discovered within the tumor.  The working theory is that vaccination may induce this form of cancer in rare cases (between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000).  The feline leukemia vaccine and the rabies vaccines have non-aluminum based adjuvants in them now to make this problem virtually obsolete.

Pet Health Information

Protect your pets from diseases by vaccinations....

Rabies

Of all animal diseases, rabies is probably the most feared. The rabies virus attacks the brain and is always fatal. Most pets are exposed to rabies from wild animals particularly skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. The disease can be transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected pet. Vaccination of all dogs and cats is the most effective means of control.

Canine Distemper

This highly contagious viral disease is found wherever dogs are found. It affects respiratory and the nervous system and is often fatal. Primary vaccination should begin at 6 weeks of age since dogs often contract the disease at an early age.

Canine Parvo Virus (CPV)

This contagious viral disease usually causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in dogs of all ages but is especially deadly in puppies.

Canine Corona Virus (CCV)

Corona virus is highly contagious and can weaken dogs by causing severe diarrhea and vomiting. The disease is sometimes confused with parvo virus. The two diseases may occur simultaneously in which case symptoms are more severe.

Canine Parainfluenza

The viral respiratory disease is often partly responsible for “kennel cough” in dogs. Infection can be severe in young puppies. Parinfluenza protection is often included in distemper-parvo vaccines.

Canine Andenovirus Type 1 and Type 2

Canine Andenovirus Type 1 infection causes infectious hepatitis which may lead to severe kidney damage. Type 2 can be a complicating factor in kennel cough. Vaccines are available that protect against both types of Andenovirus.

Canine Bordetella

Frequently involved in kennel cough complex, this bacterial infection may occur simultaneously with distemper, adenovirus type 2 infection parainfluenza and other respiratory infections.

Canine Borreloisis (Lyme Disease)

Borreliosis, or Lyme Disease, is an infection caused by a bacteria which is spread primarily by the painless bite of an infected tick. Symptoms of Borreloisis include fever, lethargy, muscle stiffness, depression and lack of appetite. In more severe cases, lameness occurs as a result of severe musculoskeletal or arthritic type joint pain.

Feline Panleukopenia

Feline Panleukopenia, sometimes called “feline distemper”, causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. It is the most widespread disease of cats and causes high death loss especially among kittens. The disease is caused by a virus and is highly contagious.

Feline Rhinotracheitis

Feline Rhinotracheitis infection is a widespread respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is most severe in small kittens and can cause profuse discharge from the eyes and nose.

Feline Calicivirus

Calicivirus infection causes a variety of symptoms including, fever, excess salivation and mouth or tongue ulcers. It is usually less fatal than rhinotracheitis and panleukopenia.

Feline Pneumonitis

Respiratory infection with symptoms resembling rhinotracheitis. The disease is caused by an organism Chlamydia psittaci and can be complicated by associated bacterial infections.

Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia is a form of cancer in cats which is usually fatal. The disease, caused by a virus, can lead to tumor growth nearly anywhere in the body as well as a variety of other symptoms. Infected cats are unable to resist other diseases and may die from associated infections.

If you have any questions about vaccines in general or would like an individualized protection program for your pet, contact Dr. Hablinski by phone (936-856-2927) or by email (askthevet@willisvet.com). He is happy to discuss this matter with you in detail.