Just like people, there are basic vaccinations cats and dogs need throughput their lives to protect them from a host of diseases.
Many of these diseases are fatal or severely uncomfortable for your animal companion. Simply providing your pet with routine vaccinations can make a huge difference on their health and whether you prevent a fatal infectious disease.
Cats core vaccinations:
- FVRCP – The F is for feline viral rhinotracheitis, a feline herpes virus which accounts for a good portion of upper respiratory ailments seen by cats.
- C is for Calicivirus is another cat respiratory virus.
- P is for Panleukopenia virus is the cat equivalent to parvovirus. It is often more severe than canine parvo and leads to severe bone marrow suppression and a poorer survival chance. Vaccination prevents this.
- Rabies – this is a fatal disease from the saliva in animal bites. If your pet is infected not only will they not survive but they can pass this fatal virus to other animals and people they come into contact with.
Cat non-core vaccines:
Feline leukemia virus – this is a transmissible disease spread cat-to-cat. It can lead to much shorter survival times and can be prevented with the use of this vaccine
Dog Core vaccinations:
- DA2PP – distemper virus is often a fatal respiratory and neurologic disease. Rarely, dogs survive this and are left with lifelong neurological ‘ticks.’
- A – stands for adenomavirus which is a serious viral infection of the liver that is rarely seen today thanks to the vaccination. But the disease is still out there
- P – is for parvo virus. An often fatal if untreated virus that affects the gastro-intestinal tract causing life-threatening fluid loss, bacterial translocation into the blood stream and sometimes low blood sugar. This virus can cause thousands to recover from and is preventable with vaccination.
- Parainfluenza is a respiratory disease that can lead to serious upper and lower respiratory issues. Vaccination can prevent this.
Dog non-core vaccinations:
- Leptospirosis – this is a bacterial infection that will fatally infect the liver, kidneys or both of the infected animal. All mammals, including people can get it. This infection is on the rise throughout North America.
- Bordetella – an upper respiratory infection that often has other viruses and bacteria tag along for the ride. Often it is self limiting but it can be more severe. Vaccination can reduce transmission and severity.
- Canine Influenza (CIV ) – there have been 2 strains, one emerged around 2007-2008 – we don’t really see this strain anymore. A new strain that emerged in 2014-2015 and resurged in 2017 . While not too common, it is still seen and will cause infection in 100% of the dogs it infects that are not vaccinated. CIV is a vaccination where a dog’s lifestyle should be considered.
- Dogs that don’t have much contact with other dogs are at very low risk.
- Dogs that frequent dog parks, go to daycare and get boarded are at a much higher risk of becoming infected depending on the prevalence in the area. Again, this virus is not seen too frequently anymore.
Prevention against heartworm, intestinal parasites and fleas:
Whether indoors are outside, pets are vulnerable to Heartworm and flea infections. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes. These insects can easily get into homes every time a door is open and bite/sting your pet anytime he/she encounters a mosquito.
Once it develops, heartworms live in the vessels that go to the heart and can cause right-sided heart failure and death as well as significant lung inflammation. Heartworms can be tested for in dogs but is much harder to find in cats. In felines, sometimes the first symptom seen is respiratory issues and death.
We can prevent heartworm infection easily with monthly oral or topical medication.
Fleas can lead to itching, allergies, tapeworm infection, anemia and weight loss. This can also be prevented with a monthly oral or topical medication. In some preventions it is combined with the heartworm preventative. Many of these preventatives also contain certain anti-parasitics for intestinal parasites, providing an additional layer of protection.
Take home – you can prevent fatal and serious diseases with regular vaccinations and prevention. Talk to your veterinarian about what’s best for your animal companion. You have the power to protect them!
