Vaccine Recommendations:
Canine Vaccination and Preventative Care Guidelines
We are starting to see new strains of Leptospira ("Lepto")
move into our area. For this reason, we are now vaccinating
dogs with a vaccine that covers four serovars (types) of the
bacteria. For more information on the disease see below or
click here.
Adult dogs, already on an established vaccine protocol will require
one initial vaccination and one booster vaccination 2-3 weeks later
to obtain a complete immune response. Vaccination will then be
repeated annually.
We are also seeing an increase in tick-borne disease in our area. We are now advising vaccination for Lyme disease, especially in dogs that are taking part in outdoor activities. Similar to the lepto vaccine, adult dogs, already on an established vaccine protocol will require one initial vaccination and one booster vaccination 2-3 weeks later to obtain a complete immune response. Vaccination will then be repeated annually.
We are recommending yearly testing for blood parasites, including heartworms, Lyme's disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis. The test requires only a small blood sample and tests for all four parasites.
|
Vaccine |
Initial Puppy Vaccination (≤16wks) |
Initial Adult Vaccination (>16 wks) |
Revaccination
(Booster) |
Comments |
|
Canine Parvovirus (MLV) (don’t use killed) |
All puppies should receive a
minimum of
3 doses, 3-4
weeks apart.
Begin vaccination at 6 -8
weeks. |
2 doses 3-4 weeks apart. 1 dose is considered protective and
acceptable. |
1 year after initial vaccination series, then every 1-3 years |
Highly recommended for all dogs.
|
|
Canine Distemper Virus (MLV) |
All puppies should receive a
minimum of
3 doses, 3-4
weeks apart.
Begin vaccination at 6 -8
weeks. |
2 doses 3-4 weeks apart. 1 dose is considered protective and
acceptable. |
1 year after initial vaccination series, then every 1-3 years |
Highly recommended for all dogs.
|
|
Canine Adenovirus-2 (MLV; injectable) |
All puppies should receive a
minimum of
3 doses, 3-4
weeks apart.
Begin vaccination at 6 -8
weeks. |
2 doses 3-4 weeks apart. 1 dose is considered protective and
acceptable. |
1 year after initial vaccination series, then every 1-3 years |
Highly recommended for all dogs.
|
|
Rabies 1-year (killed) |
Administer 1 dose as early as 3 months of age. |
Administer a single dose. |
Annual |
Rabies vaccination is required by law. |
|
Rabies 3-year (killed) |
Administer 1 dose as early as 3 months of age. |
Administer a single dose. |
Illinois allows either the 3-year or the annual rabies
vaccination.
The 1-year vaccine is often given for the initial
vaccination followed by the three year vaccination 1 year
later. |
Rabies vaccination is required by law.
|
|
Parainfluenza Virus (IN) |
At 6-8 weeks, then every 3-4 weeks until 12-14 weeks of age. |
One dose. |
1 year after initial vaccination series, then every 1-3 years |
Does not cross protect against canine influenza. |
|
Bordatella bronchiseptica
(killed
bacterin) |
One dose at 6-8 weeks then another at 10-12 weeks. |
Two doses 3-4 weeks apart. |
Annual |
Vaccine should be administered 1 week prior to anticipated
exposure. |
|
Bordatella bronchiseptica
(cell
wall Ag extract) |
One dose at 8 weeks of age and another at 12 weeks |
Two doses 4 weeks apart. |
Annually or up to every 6 months in high risk environments. |
Vaccine should be administered 1 week prior to anticipated
exposure. |
|
Bordatella bronchiseptica
and Parainfluenza virus (IN) |
A single dose as early as 3 weeks of age; for best results
repeat in 2-4 weeks. |
One dose. |
Annually; or more often if high risk of exposure. |
Transient (3-10 days) of coughing, sneezing, or nasal
discharge may occur in a small number of dogs.
If an animal has not been vaccinated in the past 6
months, a booster is recommended 1 week prior to known
exposure (boarding, showing, etc.). |
|
Borrelia burgdorferi
(Lyme’s disease) |
Initial dose at 9 or 12 weeks of age (depends on
manufacturer) with a second dose given 2 to 4 weeks later |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart |
Annually; revaccinate just prior to onset of tick season. |
Recommended only for dogs at high risk of tick exposure –
Illinois is endemic for Lyme disease. |
|
Leptospira interrogans |
One dose at 12 weeks and one dose at 14 to 16 weeks (for
optimal response do not use on puppies < 12 weeks of age) |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart |
Annually |
Vaccination should be restricted to dogs at high risk of
exposure. Dogs
in our area have been diagnosed with this disease, so dogs
spending time in and around water should be vaccinated.
Incidence of post-vaccination reactions (acute
anaphylaxis) in puppies (<12 weeks) and small breeds is
high. |
Puppy Series
Puppies receive antibodies from their mothers while they are nursing. While this maternal immunity is present in the puppy’s system, any vaccines given will be inactivated. Puppies 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 (we do this 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 2 to 4 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 2 to 4 weeks prior.
FURTHER INFORMATION BY DISEASE
Rabies Virus
Rabies
is transmitted mainly through bite wounds of other infected animals.
Infection is fatal for the dog and there is a risk of transmitting
the disease to humans. Therefore, rabies virus vaccination is
required by law.
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Bordetella bronchiseptica
is a bacteria involved that is part of the
“kennel cough” complex.
Kennel cough is characterized by variable degrees of fever,
nasal or ocular discharge, sneezing, and coughing.
Dogs usually get infected when they are kept in a crowded situation
with poor air circulation but lots of warm air (i.e., a boarding
kennel, vaccination clinic, obedience class, local park, animal
shelter, animal hospital waiting room, or grooming parlor).
Dogs can shed
Bordetella
organisms for up to 3 months after infection.
We recommend keeping all dogs current on Bordetella vaccinations as
you never know when they will be in an unexpected situation.
If not given regularly this vaccine is given 2 weeks prior to
boarding.
It is important to realize that not all members of the kennel cough
complex have a vaccine. Also, because kennel cough is a localized
infection (meaning it is local to the respiratory tract), it is an
infection that does not lend itself to prevention by vaccination.
Vaccination must be regularly boosted (2 to 3 times yearly) and
often vaccination simply
muffles the severity of infection without completely preventing it.
Adenovirus-2
This vaccine protects against canine adenovirus-1 (CAV-1) and
adenovirus-2 (CAV-2).
CAV-2 is a part of the “Kennel Cough” complex.
Signs are usually mild and self-limiting and consist of a
harsh cough. Illness
can be more sever e in puppies and dogs who are compromised due to
overcrowding and stress.
Vaccination against CAV-2 also provides protection against
the much more serious CAV-1, the cause of Infectious Canine
Hepatitis. The illness
can cause sudden death in puppies and can also cause disease of
multiple organs including the liver and the kidneys.
Core vaccine required for
all dogs.
Distemper Virus
Canine distemper virus initially infects the
respiratory tract, causing eye and nose discharge followed by
coughing due to pneumonia.
In then infects the GI tract causing inappetnce, vomiting and
diarrhea. Dogs that
survive the initial infection can then develop neurologic signs
(seizures, incoordination).
Because the early stages of distemper mimc other diseases it
can be difficult to diagnose.
Puppies are most susceptible.
Core vaccine required for all dogs.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus infects rapidly dividing cells (such as the Gi tract and
bone marrow), causing severe vomiting and diarrhea, often resulting
in dehydration, sepsis and death if left untreated.
In surviving dogs, the virus may be shed for 2-3 weeks
postinfection. The disease is most severe in puppies and certain
breeds (Rottweilers). infected dogs from other dogs.
Core vaccine required for all dogs.
This virus is a part of the “Kennel Cough” complex
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted in the urine and
tissue of infected rodents, wildlife, and livestock.
It infects the liver and kidneys, with the exact symptoms
varying with the strain involved.
Leptospirosis can cause fever, lethargy, vomiting, and/or
kidney failure. The
vaccine is associated with a higher risk of allergic reactions than
other vaccines. We
recommend its use for those dogs at risk of exposure.
We will not use it until a pup is older than 12 weeks old.
Borrelia burdorfeii
Borrelia burgdorfeii is the causative agent of Lyme’s disease. Your dog is at risk if he/she is exposed to ticks. We have dogs test positive for Lyme’s disease in this area. This vaccine is recommended for dogs that spend a lot of times outdoors (hunting dogs, outdoor dogs). Although the vaccine is helpful, tick control is the most important aspect in the prevention of Lyme’s disease. Symptoms of disease include lethargy, shifting leg lameness, stiffness.
Feline Vaccination and Preventative Care Guidelines
Like
dogs, cats are susceptible to heartworm disease. We recommend
using heartworm prevention in all cats. The topical product "REVOLUTION"
is applied between the shoulder blades and also prevents fleas, ear
mites, roundworms, hookworms, and sarcoptic mange "scabies".
Kitten Series
Nursing
kittens are protected by the antibodies they get from their mother’s
milk. These antibodies reduce the effectiveness of any vaccine given
to the kitten while it is nursing. By 12 weeks of age, maternal
antibodies decrease enough to allow the immune system to respond to
vaccination. For kittens that are
orphaned or at high risk of exposure, vaccination with the
injectable form of the feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus
vaccine can be performed as young as 4 weeks old, and as young as
10-14 days with the topical form of the vaccine. Following
the kitten series, a booster is performed 1 year later. Vaccinations
for adult cats are then repeated as necessary for individual
vaccines.
|
Vaccine |
Initial Kitten Vaccination
(<12 weeks) |
Initial Adult Cat Vaccination
(≥ 12 weeks) |
Revaccination
(Booster) |
Comments |
|
Feline Parvovirus
(cause of feline panleukopenia) |
If > 6 weeks old, vaccinate at initial visit and every 3
to 4 weeks until > 12 weeks old |
Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart |
1 year after initial vaccination series, then every 1-3 years |
Highly recommended for all cats.
Vaccine is highly effective against disease. |
|
Feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus
|
lf >6
weeks old, vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4
weeks until > 12 weeks old |
Administer 2
doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart |
1 year after
initial vaccination series, then every 1-3 years |
Highly
recommended for all cats. These two viruses are
responsible for >90% of all infectious upper respiratory
disease in cats. |
|
Rabies (1-year) |
Not eligible
for vaccination |
Administer 1
dose. |
1 year after initial vaccination,
then every year |
Highly
recommended for all cats. |
|
Rabies (3-year) |
Not eligible for vaccination |
Administer 1 dose. |
1 year after initial vaccination, then every 3 years |
Highly recommended for all cats. |
|
Feline Leukemia Virus |
Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart to cats as young as 8
weeks old |
Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart |
Annually |
Recommended for cats that are not
restricted to a closed, indoor, FeLV-negative
environment;
most important
for cats < 16 weeks old;
not recommended
for cats >16 weeks old with minimal to no risk of
exposure to FeLV-infected cats |
FURTHER INFORMATION BY DISEASE
Feline Panleukopenia is caused by feline
parvovirus
and is commonly known as feline distemper. It is a highly
contagious and deadly disease in cats.
Clinical
signs of infection include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea,
fever, and profound decrease in white blood cells; mortality rates
are highest in young, susceptible cats. In-utero infection with FPV
is a common cause of brain defects in kittens.
Serious adverse events
associated with FPV vaccines are rare. The virus remains infectious
for months to years in the environment and is primarily spread via
the fecal oral route.
The vaccine is highly effective with most vaccinated kittens
being well protected from development of the disease and its
symptoms. It is highly recommended vaccine for all cats.
This vaccine is available without
adjuvant (explained above)
in an injectable form, or as a nasal spray/eye drop
product combination with calicivirus and herpesvirus (see next
paragraph).
Feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus; FHV-1) and
feline calicivirus account for up to 90% of all cases of
infectious upper respiratory diseases in cats.
The disease is self-limiting; however,
infected cats may develop chronic oculonasal disease and
serve as a major source of infection to other cats.
Cats infected with FHV-1
develop lifelong latent infection that reactivates during periods of
stress or following corticosteroid administration. Risk of
exposure to both viruses is very high and vaccination is highly
recommended for all cats. This vaccine, known as FVRC, is
a combination vaccine, called a “bivalent” or when combined with
feline parvovirus (above) referred to as a “trivalent” vaccine (FVRCP).
This vaccine is available without
adjuvant as
an injection, or in a topical nasal spray/eye drop form.
If a susceptible cat is born into or
entering an home where viral upper respiratory tract disease is
present in the population (eg, some catteries, boarding facilities,
and shelters), the use of the topical product may be advantageous.
Regardless of the route of administration, FHV-1 and FCV vaccines
induce an immune response that lessens the severity of disease but
vaccinates are not immune to
infection, nor are they protected from all signs of disease.
Adverse events associated with vaccination against FHV-1 and FCV
include mild transient fever, sneezing, conjunctivitis, oculonasal
discharge, lameness, and, for injectable products, pain at the
injection site.
Rabies Virus is transmitted mainly through bite wounds of other infected animals. Cats develop rabies more often than any other domestic animal. Infection is fatal for the cat and there is a risk of transmitting the disease to humans. Therefore, rabies virus vaccination is highly recommended for all cats.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is the leading viral killer
of cats. Clinical
signs of infection are primarily related to cancer, anemia, and
diseases resulting from suppression of the immune system. It
is spread from cat-to-cat through bite wounds, direct contact with
infected cats (grooming, sharing food/ water utensils), and from an
infected mother cat to her kittens.
Kittens younger than 16 weeks of
age are most susceptible to infection, with cats older than this
being relatively resistant. The
decision to vaccinate an individual cat against FeLV infection
should be based on the cat's age and its risk of exposure.
Vaccination is recommended for cats at greatest risk of infection:
·
free roaming cats
·
cats that live in environments with other cats going outside
·
cats living with FeLV-infected cats
·
cats in homes where the FeLV status of other cats in the house is
unknown
·
cats under 4 months of age
·
strictly indoor cats that are never exposed to outdoor cats
·
especially those cats older than 4 months of age
Vaccination against FeLV does not
diminish the importance of testing cats to identify those infected
with the virus. It is very important that infected cats not be in
contact with other cats, especially those younger than 4 months of
age. Therefore, the FeLV infection status of all cats should be
determined.
Individuals confirmed to be infected with FeLV need not receive FeLV
vaccines but they should be segregated from uninfected cats.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
This virus is similar to the
virus that causes AIDS in humans.
The cat is exposed most often during fights when blood is
shed. The virus attacks
the cats immune system and once infected there is no treatment. Once
vaccinated, your cat will always test positive for the infection and
there is no way to tell the difference between a cat that is
actually infected with the virus and one that is vaccinated against
it. Because of this many experts do not recommend this vaccine for
routine use. We will need to
be sure that your cat is tested for infection prior to this
vaccination, and that the results of that test are negative.
The
following vaccines are not recommended for routine use in cats.
Chlamydiosis, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Dermatophytosis
(ringworm), Bordetella
(this is different
from the dog vaccine), and Giardiasis.