Vaccines have had a tremendous positive impact on the lives of our companion animals since they have come into wide use over the past 35 years. Despite the wide prevalence of these products, there remains a significant amount of confusion and disinformation about vaccines and the role they play in keeping our pets healthy.
Vaccinations are currently available for many diseases, ranging from Distemper to Rabies to gingivitis. Recent years has seen an emergence of a large number of newer vaccines, as well as research into established vaccines that have prompted reevaluation of these older vaccines. The Sun Prairie Pet Clinic is constantly evaluating vaccination recommendations when new information and products become available.
Current information regarding vaccines in dogs and cats groups each vaccine into one of three categories – Core, Non-core, and Not Recommended.
- Core vaccines are recommended for every dog or cat regardless of lifestyle, age, or breed. In general, these include the Distemper combination and Rabies vaccines.
- Non-core vaccines are recommended only for certain members of the population. Individuals that will benefit from these vaccines will vary according to their age, lifestyle, breed, or other factors. These vaccines are used after consultation between the doctor and the owner of the pet. Examples of non-core vaccines that our hospital uses include Lyme disease vaccination, Leptospirosis vaccine, and Kennel Cough (Bordetella) vaccine.
- Not recommended vaccines are neither advised by our staff nor stocked at the hospital.
Canine Vaccine Recommendations
Rabies
Rabies can affect any mammal and attacks the nervous system. This disease is widely distributed though the world and causes death in almost every case it is seen. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine and is required by law.
Distemper
Canine Distemper can affect the digestive, respiratory, skin, and nervous systems. It is widely distributed and carries a poor prognosis once contracted. Symptoms can range from sneezing, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea, to changes in the foot pads, to convulsions and loss of consciousness. The vaccine is considered a core vaccine and is strongly recommended.
Canine Infectious Hepatitis
Infectious Hepatitis is caused by canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1). This virus attacks the liver and results in several symptoms including vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, eye damage, and neurological symptoms. Though many dogs that contract the disease survive with few complications, there is no treatment, and severe problems can result from infection. Prevention is provided to dogs by vaccinating with a very similar modified CAV-2 virus (which is a cause of mild upper respiratory infections in dogs), which provides immunity against both diseases. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine and is strongly recommended.
Canine Parvovirus
Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease of dogs and other wild members of the dog family. This virus causes severe gastrointestinal damage and results in symptoms of severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and death. This disease is very widespread throughout the world and is a major cause of illness and death in unvaccinated puppies. Many variants have been identified, but vaccination with the current vaccine appears to provide immunity to all types. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine and is strongly recommended.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria carried by specific ticks in North America. For a dog to become infected it must to bitten by a tick carrying the disease. Lyme disease is found in Wisconsin more frequently than most other states in America in both dogs and people! This vaccine is not a core vaccine but is recommended for many dogs in our practice, especially dogs that have an increased risk of encountering the disease. Examples of at risk dogs includes hunting dogs, farm dogs and others that live primarily outdoors, dogs that go camping or into nature preserves and parks, especially dogs that travel to the northern parts of our state.
Bordatella (‘Kennel Cough’)
Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract in dogs. It received its name because it spreads quickly in dogs kept in close quarters, but a dog does not need to be kenneled to get this disease. There is no treatment, but most dogs will recover with nursing and symptomatic care. This vaccine not a core vaccine, but is recommended for dogs that will be kenneled in the next 12 months. Many boarding facilities require this vaccine before your dog will be admitted.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection in mammals that can invade the liver, kidneys, vascular system, among others. The symptoms are varied and this disease can mimic others, making it challenging to diagnose in some cases. There are a multitude of variants of this bacterium (worldwide there have been over 100 types identified); in North America there are 6 of importance. Vaccinations against one type do not protect against the other variants; therefore an effective vaccine should include as many types as possible. This vaccine is not considered a core vaccine and is recommended only in dogs that have an increased chance of encountering the bacteria based on individual lifestyle.
Coronavirus
This virus attacks the gastrointestinal tract of dogs, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Studies into this disease and its vaccine have concluded that the disease is not a major cause of illness in dogs and the vaccine is poorly effective. Because of this, this vaccine is not recommended for any of our patients; it continues to be a component of many vaccines available for dogs, however.
Porphyromonas Vaccine (Gingivitis Vaccine)
This is a very new vaccine that targets those agents responsible for the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth in dogs. This vaccine has not been used for a long enough time to have a history, though initial testing appears to be encouraging. This vaccine is not a core vaccine and is recommended only on an individual basis in susceptible dogs.
Feline Vaccine Recommendations
Rabies
Rabies can affect any mammal and affects the nervous system. This disease is widely distributed though the world and causes death in almost every case it is seen. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine and is required by law.
Feline Distemper
Feline Distemper is also known as Feline Panleukopenia. Is is very similar to Canine Parvovirus; it is not related to Canine Distemper. This virus can attack the lining of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the ability of the body to create blood cells. Symptoms include profuse vomiting and diarrhea, as well as lack of appetite and fever in unvaccinated cats. This is considered a core vaccine and is strongly recommended for all cats. Vaccine intervals for Feline Distemper have been under reevaluation recently; the current recommendation is to vaccinate for this disease with an initial kitten series, followed by boosters in the adult cat every three years. Contact the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic for details of this vaccine protocol.
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis
FVR is a feline herpes virus that is responsible for a large number of upper respiratory infections in cats. Though usually a self-limiting disease, it can cause severe pneumonia in susceptible individuals. FVR is capable of producing a carrier state where the cat can intermittently spread the disease throughout life to other cats, even if no symptoms are present. FVR is considered a core vaccine and is recommended for all cats. Vaccine intervals for FVR have been under reevaluation recently; the current recommendation is to vaccinate for this disease with an initial kitten series, followed by boosters in the adult cat every three years. Contact the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic for details of this vaccine protocol
Calicivirus
Feline Calicivirus is a potentially severe respiratory disease of cats. Many cases recover well, but more severe and deadly cases have been noted in recent years. Similar to FVR, many cats become carriers of this virus and can infect other cats over their lifetime. Feline Calicivirus vaccination is considered a core vaccination and is recommended for all cats. Just as the vaccine intervals have been updated in other feline vaccines, Feline Calicivirus is given in an initial series of kitten vaccines followed by boosters every three years as an adult. Contact the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic for details of this vaccine protocol.
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is present in both city and rural cats throughout America. This is a virus, not a cancer as the name implies. This virus can be transmitted through close personal contact (shared food dishes and mutual grooming) as well a bites from an infected cat. Very young cats are very susceptible to the virus; adult cats appear to have more resistance to the disease. This is a non-core vaccine and is recommended for outdoor cats or cats living in a house with at least one outdoor cat. Vaccination is boosted annually for FeLV.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a potentially deadly virus that is spread through bites and scratches from infected cats. Although similar in name to HIV in people, these are distinct diseases and humans cannot be infected with FIV. There is a vaccine for FIV, though it is questionable in its ability to prevent the disease. Because of this, FIV vaccine is considered a non-core vaccine and is offered only to cats that have a significant chance of being in contact with the disease.
Infectious Peritonitis
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal viral disease that has no known effective treatment. This virus is related to a family of very common and normally benign viruses; many experts feel that FIP is a case of a benign virus mutating into a dangerous one. This virus can be spread from an infected cat through inhalation, by ingesting the virus on contaminated food dishes, or from a litterbox used by an infected cat. There is vaccine available, though its use has many problems associated with it and it is not generally recommended.