Is it like flying into the Bermuda Triangle?

by Christopher Forsythe, DVM

Hello, readers. Welcome to Health Matters. My name is Dr. Christopher Forsythe. I am a small-animal veterinarian practicing in Sonoma. Each month I will contribute a pet veterinary care topic with the hope of tweaking your interest, making you smile, and educating you about your pets.

Not a day goes by without someone asking me about vaccines and whether I think a certain pet needs them, which vaccine to give, how often, or where to administer them. Should you inject more than one during an office visit or space them out over time? Do I need to give my dog vaccines every year or can it be every three years? Does my indoor cat need vaccines? She only goes out once in a while. People are constantly saying that their Pug or Boxer, Ocicat or Irish Wolfhound cannot, because of their breed, tolerate or won’t need this, that or another vaccine.

And I won’t soon forget the lovely, respectful woman who came to my hospital last month with an 8-week-old brindle Bull Terrier puppy who needed a Bordetella vaccine. Her dog’s breeder became furious about this plan and almost held them at gun-point until they switched to another veterinarian who more closely "shared" her views about vaccines. Some Shar-pei owners worry that vaccinating their dogs to prevent corona virus will cause serious problems for life.

So just what vaccine should owners trust their veterinarians to give? Do any of the vaccines help, or are you better off using a crystal ball, Ouija board or tarot cards, then wave pixie dust over your pet to instill immunity? Well, have no fear. In this article I am going to explain some vaccination principles and give some advice to help you feel safe flying into the vaccine "Bermuda Triangle."

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are several important principles to keep in mind.

• Vaccines are important in helping provide pets with tremendous benefits as well as rare, but real, risks to animals
• Individual animals require different vaccines and customized vaccine protocols
• Revaccination recommendations should be designed to create and maintain relevant immunity while minimizing adverse reactions.
• Veterinarians should create a "core" vaccine program for most pets in their practice and a "non-core" vaccine program for minority pets in their practice area.

Shared vaccines

These two common vaccines are used for both Fido and Fluffy.

Rabies:

This vaccine prevents rabies, a fatal neurological viral disease of all mammals including dogs, cats, livestock, and humans. Rabies-infected wildlife and unvaccinated animals are the source of this virus. Because rabies is a significant health hazard it is extremely important to include this on your must-have list.

Bordetella:

This vaccine prevents a contagious respiratory disease common in dogs and catscaused by a bacteria known as Bordetella bronchiseptica, a dangerous organism that leads to pets exhibiting a characteristic "goose" honk called "kennel cough." But don’t let the name fool you; your pet doesn’t need to be boarded to get this. All your pet needs to do to catch this highly-contagious disease is simply be around other pets and live an ordinary life.

Poke Spot, see Spot run!

The DA2PP vaccine for dogs only is commonly referred to as the "annual," "booster," or sometimes "5 in one." This vaccination actually contains several different components to impart immunity from diseases corresponding to the initials in its name. But just what do the silly initials in the acronym stand for?

• The D stands for distemper, a nervous system virus, often fatal, that nearly every dog will be exposed to in its lifetime.
• A stands for adenovirus, a hepatitis-causing virus spread by contact with urine, feces and other secretions from infected animals. The liver is the primary organ affected and death is possible in severe cases.
• C (not listed, but in the vaccine) is for Corona virus, which can cause serious disease leading to death when it strikes in tandem with parvovirus..
• P#1 stands for Parainfluenza, one of several viruses known to cause infection and inflammation a dog’s lungs and respiratory passages.
• P#2 stands for Parvovirus, a highly contagious, debilitating, and sometimes fatal virus spread through infected fecal material.

Lyme Vaccine:

The North Bay is a Lyme-endemic area. The bacteria which cause Lyme disease in dogs and humans is carried by a specific tick species called deer ticks. If your dog loves to run and chase in fields and forests, this vaccine should be on your list.

Poke Puff, see Puff hiss

FVRCCP is known as the kitty "distemper," "annual," or "4 in one" vaccine.

• FVR stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis which is a feline herpes virus. Herpes is the most common upper respiratory infection in cats.
• C#1 stands for Calicivirus, a virus that affects the feline upper respiratory system, and accounts for approximately 40 percent of all respiratory diseases in cats. Even if successfully treated, cats infected with Calici can become chronic virus carriers with lifelong clinical signs of sneezing and runny eyes.
• C#2 stands for Chlamydia, that lovely little organism mother warned you about. In cats, though, it causes mild upper respiratory infection, particularly around the eyes, and symptoms include tearing and nasal discharge. Boarding your cat increases its risk of Chlamydia infection and disease.
• P stands for Panleukopenia or Feline Distemper, a widespread, often fatal disease. Since most cats are likely to be exposed to this in their lifetime, vaccination against this illness is important.
• FeLV stands for Feline Leukemia Vaccine, designed to prevent the viral disease that attacks the immune system leaving the cat vulnerable to a host of secondary infections. Death most often occurs within three years of infection.

Special pets, special plans

Most veterinarians are now offering customized vaccine and treatment plans for each patient, because each and every pet is as individual as every person.

While most vaccine recipients do very well, a tiny fraction may have an allergic reaction, which can lead to serious complications, even death. Based on this concern, and on the advice of many professional veterinary associations, many practitioners have moved away from the old school of thought regarding frequency of vaccinations. Many vets now use a three year protocol rather than the old annual protocol for many pets.

Many also recommend blood "titers" for our dog patients during the off years. A titer consists of a blood test to check for the presence of a significant number of antibodies for distemper and parvo. If enough immunity is in the pet’s system from previous vaccinations, revaccination that year is not necessary. Many veterinarians are now extending vaccine protocols for older cats as well, and modifying and customizing vaccines for these patients to reduce risk and optimize health.

The take home message is this: you and your veterinarian should communicate freely about preparing a safe, thoughtful, and comprehensive vaccine protocol that meets your pets’ needs. It should take into account breed, age, health concerns, sensitivities and lifestyles. There are no set-in-cement rules, and with all the information available, your pet’s safety and well being should only increase as the years go by.

For more information on current vaccines and links to other sites, please see our website, www. altimiravet.com.