Home 
Health Topics Medical Vaccinations for Your Pet
Health Topics Medical Vaccinations for Your Pet | Vaccinations for Your Pet |
|
|
|
|
Vaccinations for Your Pet Pet Column for the week of July 14, 1997 Office of Public Engagement 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. Urbana, Illinois 61802 Phone: 217/333-2907 By Theresa A. Fuess, Ph.D. Information Specialist University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure when it comes to your pet's health. Preventing disease by vaccination is safer and cheaper than treating disease. "An animal's immune system has to learn to recognize an infectious agent and to produce appropriate antibodies," says Dr. Rhonda L. Schulman, veterinarian and internal medicine resident at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana. "When unvaccinated animals are exposed to a virus or bacteria, they can become very sick before their immune system has time to react. Vaccinations give the immune system a head start so that antibodies are ready to destroy the infectious agent immediately, before it can make the animal sick." Newborn pups and kittens get antibodies from their mother when they nurse. Maternal antibodies will protect young animals from disease for the first few months of their life. The length of time maternal antibodies last varies from animal to animal. Once the antibodies are gone, the young animal is very susceptible to disease. "Unfortunately, vaccinations will not work while the maternal antibodies are present," explains Dr. Schulman. "Therefore, puppies and kittens need a series of shots three to four weeks apart so they are protected when the maternal antibodies are gone and before they are exposed to disease. In most cases, vaccinations at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, followed by annual boosters, will keep your pet protected for life." Dr. Schulman recommends the standard DAAPPL vaccine for dogs and FVRCP vaccine for cats. DAAPPL protects dogs from distemper, hepatitis (caused by two types of adenovirus), parvovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. FVRCP protects cats from feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. "These are infectious diseases," she says "most of which are potentially fatal and prevalent all over the United States." Dogs and cats should also be vaccinated for rabies at 16 weeks and 1 year of age followed by a booster every year or every three years, depending on the vaccine. Rabies vaccine is required by law for dogs. Some counties in Illinois also require rabies vaccine for cats. Even if not required, a rabies vaccine will not only protect your cat from rabies but also protect you from legal issues: an animal that bites a person is required to be quarantined for 10 days; an un-vaccinated pet that is bitten by another unvaccinated animal is required to be quarantined for six months or to be euthanized. "One of the saddest things a vet has to do is euthanize a healthy animal because it was bitten and was not vaccinated," says Dr. Schulman. Your pet's lifestyle may increase its exposure to other diseases. Dogs that go to boarding kennels, dog shows, or the like may benefit from vaccinations for bordetella and corona. Cats that spend time outside should be vaccinated for feline leukemia virus. These diseases are spread when an animal is in close contact with an infected animal. Your veterinarian can help you decide if these vaccines are indicated for your pet. Office of Public Engagement / 3505 VMBSB 2001 S Lincoln Ave / Urbana, IL 61802 / Phone: 217/333-2907 Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto:               |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Donate to Lake Shore
Training Video
 |
Syndicate
