November 2008
November 18, 2008
“When I got my puppy,
he had all of his shots?”
Puppies and kittens can go to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. This is the age when they can be separated from the mother and should have their first vaccinations. However, this is only the beginning of a vaccine series. They are by no means finished. For the first 5 to 6 weeks of life, puppies and kittens have protective antibodies from their mother. These (passive) antibodies only last so long. The puppy or kitten needs to produce it’s own antibodies (active) in response to vaccines which stimulate their immunity.
Though both the puppy and kitten vaccine boosters are called distemper vaccines, they are completely different. The puppy distemper/parvovirus vaccine includes the highly contagious: 1) canine distemper and 2) canine parvovirus as well as 3) canine parainfluenza and 4) two canine hepatitis (adenovirus) fractions. This 4 in 1 booster vaccine needs to be given every 3 to 4 weeks until approximately 4 months of age. This allows the vaccine to “take”(in other words, “protect” the patient) somewhere along the line of multiple boosters and also challenges the body’s memory in order to fight disease.
DH(L)PP:
Canine distemper (D) is a highly contagious virus that attacks the lungs and brain, hence the name distemper, and is usually fatal. Parvovirus (P) is an intestinal virus that attacks the intestinal tract causing severe diarrhea, vomiting and potential death. Parainfluenza virus (P) causes respiratory disease. It can be partly responsible for kennel cough disease. There are two types of hepatitis virus (H) included in the combination vaccine.
Leptospirosis (L) is a bacterial disease that can be carried in any mammal’s urine. The disease causes kidney and liver damage. It has often been combined in the DH(L)PP or can be given separately. Sometimes a dog can have a reaction to this vaccine and should no longer receive it.
The core canine vaccine series with DHPP or DHLPP is very important to prevent possible fatal diseases that are preventable. The youngest dogs are the most potentially susceptible. Boosters are given every 3 to 4 weeks until about 4 months of age allowing 3 to 4 boosters as young puppies.
FVRCP:
Kittens need to receive 2 to 3 feline distemper combination vaccines (FVRCP) to develop their own active immunity after separation from their mothers.
FVR refers to feline viral rhinotracheitis which causes upper respiratory disease with eyes and nasal passages affected with mucoid discharge. The C stands for calici virus causing mouth and tongue ulcers and Chlamydia which causes respiratory infection. P stands for panleukopenia or feline distemper, a virus that attacks the intestinal tract and sometimes brain (hence the name distemper). It is highly contagious and can kill kittens.
Some other vaccines include Lyme vaccine for dogs only (no Lyme disease found in cats at this time)) and Feline Leukemia vaccine which is cat specific. Both of these vaccines require two boosters the first time with yearly follow-up boosters. There are quick, in-house screening tests that help check for exposure to Lyme and two other tick borne diseases in dogs, and Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS in cats. It is good to check a pet’s status for these diseases before trying to protect against them with vaccines.
Rabies vaccine is required by law to be given to all cats and dogs 12 weeks of age and older. Rabies is found in our local population of racoons, skunks, and foxes on a regular basis and is a real threat as it is fatal to our pets and humans alike.
Bordetella: One of the causes of kennel cough in dogs. This vaccine should be given prior to kenneling, obedience classes or a stay at the groomer’s shop where other dogs are present at the same time.
Ideally, all vaccines should be completed by 16 weeks old in puppies and 12 weeks old in kittens. In this way they are adequately protected. Until the series of vaccines is completed, puppies and kittens should have limited exposure to other cats and dogs, public places such as dog parks and hiking trails. They should also avoid long distance travel
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