Vaccinations

Town & Country Animal Hospital is dedicated to working on behalf of your pets' best interests. Protecting their health is a part of this process. Adult dogs and cats as well as puppies and kittens need to be vaccinated to help protect them against contagious diseases.

The canine annual vaccines includes a physical examination, heartworm and fecal exams, and vaccines for the following:

1. Rabies:

It can be found in mammals and it is an infectious disease of the central nervous system that is fatal. The disease can transmitted in saliva from the bites of infected animals, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. It is rare in the U.S., and usually domesticated cats are more susceptible than dogs.

Point of Interest:
Inactivated by many disinfectants, this virus is unstable outside of the body.

2. Bordetella (tracheobronchitis):

It is an acute respiratory disease that is highly contagious, and can be spread by coughing and sneezing. The disease develops into life-threatening pneumonia and will result in symptoms including harsh, dry cough, nasal discharge, and fever .

Point of Interest:
A collection of highly contagious respiratory diseases, including Bordetella, is called Kennel Cough because it rapidly spreads in areas where many dogs are kept together.

3. Parvovirus:

Parvovirus infects the intestinal tract
It is highly contagious. It is shed in the feces of infected dogs and can survive for many months
It causes anorexia, depression, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and death.

Point of Interest:
Certain breeds appear to be more susceptible to parvovirus, including Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and possible Pit Bull Terriers and Black Laborador Retrievers. Whatever breed your dogs are, it is necessary to vaccinate them; this infection is easy to prevent with regular visits to the veterinarian.

4. Distemper:

Distemper is a highly contagious multisystemic viral disease that is closely related to measles
It has a wide range of hosts. The hosts include foxes, coyotes, wolves, ferrets, weasels, skunks, otters, raccoons, and pandas.
It causes anorexia, depression, fever, pneumonia, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The virus is shed in all secretions and excretions, though it is spread primarily through sneezing and coughing
It affects the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, eyes, and nervous system.
Marked symptoms include pitted teeth in younger dogs, hard paw pads, and abdominal pustules.

Point of Interest:
Even with mild cases, this disease is often progressive, despite therapy. Some animals will appear to recover and then the symptoms will return and worsen.

5. Hepatitis:

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver
Resulting in fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, disorientation, depression, coma, and death.
The disease is short lived with acute cases. After a few days it can result in death
Dogs that do recover may have corneal edema (blue eye).

Point of Interest:
Hepatitis is resistant to inactivation and disinfection and is shed for six to nine months in the urine of recovered dogs.

6. Leptospirosis:

Leptospirosis affects the kidneys and the liver.
It is an infection caused by exposure to contaminated water, food, bedding, soil, and vegetation.
It is shed in urine for months or even years after recovery
Symptoms include fever, anorexia, reluctance to move, dehydration and death.

Point of Interest:
Leptospirosis sometimes results in abortions, stillbirths, uveitis (inflammation of iris and surrounding area), and meningitis.

Puppies are first vaccinated at six to eight weeks old, with distemper/measles and parvo vaccines, a fecal exam, and deworming. Every three weeks they receive the DHLP (# 3-6 above), parvo, and bordetella vaccines and deworming. At sixteen weeks of age, they receive a rabies vaccine as well as their last set of puppy vaccines.

The feline yearly vaccines includes a physical and fecal exam as well as vaccines for the following:

1. Panleukopenia (FPV):

A severe, highly contagious parvoviral infection (found in intestinal tract)
Affects all species of family Felidae, as well as raccoons, coatimundi, and minks
Symptoms include anorexia, depression, high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and death

Point of Interest:
FPV cases have become rare because of the vaccine, but the virus can still be found in unvaccinated kittens, especially those found in shelters, farms, and the urban stray population.

2. Rhinotracheitis:

An acute upper respiratory infection caused by feline herpesvirus
Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, hypersalivation, corneal ulceration, and loss of voice

Point of Interest:
Many recovered cats become carriers, with oropharynx (mouth and throat) shedding during periods of stress.

3. Calicivirus:

An upper respiratory disease with ulcerative glossitis (ulcerations of the tongue)
Symptoms include sneezing, runny eyes, fever, limping, diarrhea, vomiting, lameness, crusted/ulcerated nose, tongue, and palate

Point of Interest:
Many recovered cats become persistent carriers, shedding the virus from the mouth and throat.

4. Chlamydia:

Contracted from direct contact with an infected cat
Can also cause sneezing, nasal discharge, and coughing

Point of Interest:
Conjunctivitis is the most common symptom of chlamydia

5. Leukemia (FeLV):

An infectious virus that is spread through bite wounds and urine
Outdoor cats are the most commonly infected
Results in anemia, cancer, immunodeficiancy (which can lead to opportunistic infections), and enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, and the liver

Point of Interest:
Clean and disinfect area, especially food and water bowls; FeL is susceptible to most disinfectants and survives for only a few hours outside of the body when it is allowed to dry.

6. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP):

A progressive disease that affects both domesticated and exotic cats, including cougars, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and jaguars
Cats become infected by coming into contact with other infected cats or feces
Symptoms include fever, anorexia, inactivity, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and anemia

Point of Interest:
A chronic, fluctuating fever that is unresponsive to antibiotics is a distinct sympton of FIP.

7. Rabies:

Found in mammals
An infectious disease of the central nervous system that is fatal
Transmitted in saliva from the bites of infected animals, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes
Rare in the U.S., though domesticated cats are more susceptible than dogs

Point of Interest:
Inactivated by many disinfectants, this virus is unstable outside of the body.

8. Bordetella (tracheobronchitis):

An acute respiratory disease
Highly contagious, spread by coughing and sneezing
Develops into life-threatening pneumonia
Symptoms include harsh, dry cough, nasal discharge, and fever

Point of Interest:
A collection of highly contagious respiratory disease, including Bordetella, is called Kennel Cough because it rapidly spreads in areas where many dogs are kept together.

Cats do not receive semi-annual vaccines.

Kittens receive their first deworming at three to four weeks of age. At eight weeks, they are vaccinated for FDRCC (#1-4), dewormed, and given both fecal and physical exams. The second set of vaccines, three weeks later, includes the above plus a leukemia vaccine. Every three weeks after that, the kittens are dewormed and given vaccines against FDRCC, leukemia, and FIP. The final set of kitten vaccines, at sixteen weeks of age, includes a rabies vaccine.

More information on vaccines and diseases can be found in the Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, Birchard and Sherding, W.B. Saunders Company: Philadelphia, 1994 and the Cornell Feline Health Center .

• 13475 SW 136th Street • Miami, FL 33186 • Phone: (305) 238-2222 •
e-mail: info@tcahvets.com