Why Vaccinate?
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has issued vaccine guidelines to assist veterinarians in making the best vaccine choices for your pet. Vaccinations are not only safe and effective, they are an important and fundamental piece of your pet’s preventative healthcare plan. Advances in veterinary immunology have made diseases that once were relatively common and fatal to pets easily preventable.
Additionally, with each passing year, veterinary science is improving on existent vaccines as well as increasing our ability to prevent an even wider array of contagious diseases.
Vaccines are biological products made to trigger a protective immune response. A vaccine stimulates the immune system to recognize the disease agent as “foreign”, destroy the agent, and then remember the agent if it is encountered in the future.
Vaccines may lessen the severity of a disease process or prevent the disease altogether. No vaccine is 100% effective in preventing disease as there are many factors involved such as timing of vaccination, inadequate response to the vaccination, and health at the time of vaccination.
There are some risks involved with vaccinations but these need to be weighed against the vast benefits of proper vaccination. Most cats and dogs respond well to vaccinations. The most common adverse responses are mild and of short duration (24 – 48 hours) and may include slight fever, lethargy (sluggishness), or reduced appetite. There are other more serious reactions that occur rarely such as vomiting/diarrhea, swelling, or a severe allergic reaction. Always let your veterinarian know of any abnormalities you notice after your pet has been vaccinated.
There are many available vaccines and not all pets should be vaccinated with all of them. Your veterinarian will consider your pet’s risk of exposure based on many factors such as your geographic location, travel plans, and contact with other animals. The frequency of vaccinations is also based on individual factors. Your veterinarian will tailor a vaccination program that is best for your pet.
Kittens and puppies require a series of vaccinations (similar to children) due to their developing immune system. An incomplete series of vaccinations may lead to inadequate protection so it is critical to complete the entire regimen.
In many communities, including Franklin County, rabies vaccination is required by law for all cats and dogs over the age of 4 months. Rabies is a serious, often fatal, disease that can spread from infected animals to people. Vaccinating your pets against rabies also helps to protect your family and may save your pet’s life if they bite someone—unvaccinated animals may have to be euthanized to test for rabies if they bite someone.
In summary, vaccinations are part of a total wellness plan for your pet and your veterinarian can determine the best schedule based on your pet’s risk and lifestyle.
Healthy Pets utilizes a traditional vaccination protocol, recommending that healthy animals receive the following:
Adult Dogs
Annual/Triennial Vaccination Recommendations
Rabies: For adults receiving an initial rabies vaccine, one dose is considered protective. For all cats, a second dose one year after the initial vaccine is recommended. Following that, the vaccine should be administered every one to three years, depending on the product’s labeling.
Feline Leukemia: One of the most dangerous infectious diseases in cats today is caused by feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Cats at risk for developing feline leukemia include outdoor cats, cats living in multiple cat households and cats that interact frequently with other cats. For these high-risk cats, vaccinating for feline leukemia may be beneficial.
Adult Cats
Annual/Triennial Vaccination Recommendations
Rabies: Offered in a one-year or three-year vaccine option. All dogs and cats in Delaware and Franklin counties are required to be vaccinated against rabies and are required to wear their rabies tag. Most counties in Ohio have a rabies vaccination law. Please check with your county for more information.
Distemper Combination: This combination vaccine protects against canine distemper, canine adenovirus-2 infection (hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus infection, parainfluenza and leptospirosis. The abbreviation for this vaccine is frequently written as “DA2PL”.
Bordetella: Though not considered a core vaccine, Bordetella vaccine may be recommended for dogs whose lifestyle places them at greater risk of contracting the disease. This includes dogs that are boarded frequently or that regularly visit the groomer or dog parks regularly.
Puppies
Puppies should receive a series of vaccines beginning at six to eight weeks of age and every three to four weeks until 16 to 20 weeks of age. After one year, annual vaccination is recommended.
Rabies: All puppies should have a one-year Rabies vaccination at approximately 16 weeks of age. All dogs and cats in Delaware and Franklin counties are required to be vaccinated against rabies and are required to wear their rabies tag. Most counties in Ohio have a rabies vaccination law. Please check with your county for more information.
Distemper Combination: This combination vaccine protects against canine distemper, canine adenovirus-2 infection (hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus infection, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. The abbreviation for this vaccine is frequently written as “DA2PL”. Almost all researchers agree that for puppies, we need to give at least three combination vaccinations starting between 6-8 weeks of age and repeat these at 3-4 week intervals.
Bordetella: Though not considered a core vaccine, Bordetella vaccine may be recommended for puppies whose lifestyle places them at greater risk of contracting the disease. This includes puppies that attend puppy classes, visit pet supply stores, are boarded frequently or that regularly visit groomers or dog parks.
Kittens
Kittens should be vaccinated beginning at six to eight weeks of age and every three to four weeks until 16 to 20 weeks of age. After one year, annual vaccination is recommended.
Rabies: Kittens are generally vaccinated against rabies when they are around 16 weeks of age and given a booster shot a year after the initial vaccination. Following that, the vaccine should be administered every one to three years, depending on the product’s labeling.
Distemper Combo (RCP): The panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), and feline calicivirus (FCV) vaccines are typically administered as a combination vaccine and is often referred to as RCP. The initial vaccine is usually given around six to eight weeks of age followed by two booster vaccines each given about three to four weeks apart.
Feline Leukemia: For kittens, the first dose of vaccine is recommended at eight to 10 weeks of age, a booster is given three to four weeks later, and a final booster one year later.