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Vaccinations For Dogs And Cats
Learn about vaccine use in pets
Vaccine use in pet dog and cat health care is an
ever-evolving aspect of optimal veterinary medical care.
Guided by sound medical principles and working co-operatively with human medical
research and protocols, veterinarians are continually seeking for
better ways to keep pets healthy.
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Call your local veterinarian if
your pet is sick or if you need advice
about a specific pet.
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New vaccines, better manufacturing techniques, longer
duration of immunity, and improved safety
for pets make today's vaccination protocols better than ever before.
The incredible good that vaccines do must be
viewed in the light of the potential ill-effects that can happen to
a very few individuals. |
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Question:
We're getting a new kitten and
I keep hearing all sorts of horror stories about how bad vaccinations can
be for dogs and cats.
Even some veterinarians warn about giving too
many shots and now I just don't know what to do? What about this
issue of vaccinations are they safe or not? |
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Answer:
vaccinations... vaccines... dogs...
cats
There may be some truth to all the bad things you
have heard. In a small percent of any population... dog, cat, human,
horse, etc... there are a few individuals that do not develop good
immunity, that do develop good immunity, that have mild and transient
discomfort or fever, that have mild ill effects such as an allergic
reaction, or that may hyper-react and go into shock and die from
anaphylactic reaction. Interestingly, the same ill effects can be
induced by peanuts (see the image of such a reaction here) and other food
substances, insect venom from a sting, or medications.
We need to weigh the risk of exposure to
dangerous pathogens such as the distemper viruses of dogs and cats (same
name but different diseases!) against the risk of having a serious
reaction to a vaccine. Veterinarians try to encourage pet owners to
become educated about the pros and cons of vaccinating for various
diseases, some of which are seldom life-threatening. |
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Click on an image to view a larger version in a new window |
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This
poor little dog eventually died from "distemper" virus
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The
veterinarian vaccinates puppies and kittens early in life |
Some
vaccines may be given intra-muscularly and not under the
skin |
With
some vaccines cats can be at risk for fibrosarcoma tumor at the
injection site |
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Question:
Does my dog need
a kennel cough {the correct name is Infectious
Tracheobronchitis, TJD} vaccination every year? She is
a 4 year old Miniature Schnauzer and she never goes out of
our yard. If she doesn't really need it I don't want
her to get the vaccination.
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Go
to
VeterinaryMedicalImages.com
to see a number of photos of dogs and cats with
various conditions and diseases. View a few
x-rays (radiographs), surgery images and parasites,
too. |
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View all topics |
Answer:
vaccination... kennel cough... is it needed
With any vaccine we need to balance the
benefit versus the risk and expense. Fortunately canine
infectious tracheobronchitis, often called kennel cough because it
is more prevalent in any concentrated population of dogs whether or
not is is in a kennel environment, is seldom a dangerous
disease. Many dogs have a naturally acquired immunity but
there is no handy way to measure that immune status. Since the
veterinarian can't tell if a dog is immune during a physical exam it
is an obligation to mention or suggest the vaccination. In
your dog's case the potential for exposure my be lower than the dog
that travels a lot or goes to shows or field trials.
Kennel cough usually develops a few days
after aerosol transmission of the virus and bacteria that cause the
irritation in the lining of the trachea and bronchioles. The
dog may cough, hack, and gag on mucous for 7 to 12 days and it can
get to be very annoying for the dog and humans involved. Some
dogs may develop a secondary bacterial overgrowth and need
antibiotics. Immune deficient dogs and those of advanced age
or that have heart, lung, or trachea problems could really develop a
crisis if infected.
As with any vaccine the decision to
vaccinate or not is determined on an individual basis based on the
risk of getting the disease versus any risks and costs of the
vaccine. Learn all you can about vaccinating and then you, as
the ultimate decision-maker for your dog's health care, make the
call. |
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