Shiloh Veterinary Hospital Canine Vaccine Recommendations

The use of vaccines to prevent and control infectious disease is an accepted and necessary method of preventative health care in veterinary medicine. However, vaccinating every patient against every possible disease on an annual basis carries risks, probably is not needed, and at worse, may be harmful to your pet.

 Although no age group can be considered entirely free from risk, puppies (less than 6 months of age) are generally more susceptible to infection than adult dogs following exposure and therefore, represent the principle target population for canine vaccination protocols. The following recommendations are simply guidelines, and we will customize a vaccination program specifically for your dog. We constantly review technology to determine what is best for your pet. We are committed to giving as few vaccines as possible at any given visit. By staggering vaccine years and using a 3 year duration USDA approved vaccine, we provide a safer, more personalized protocol for your pet.

Even with this new conservative protocol, some dogs may have vaccine reactions. Some dogs may be slightly lethargic or sore after vaccination, which can be a normal response. However, if you notice that your dog develops facial swelling, vomits, stops eating, develops a lump at the injections site, or develops other signs of illness, please call the hospital immediately.

Annual and Bi-Annual Exams

Regardless of the vaccines that your dog may require, we feel your pet needs a physical exam every 6-12 months to evaluate your pet’s health. Remember dog’s age faster than humans. Every 1 year of your pet’s life is equivalent to 5-7 human years. During these regular checkups, your veterinarian can identify developing problems including dental disease, heart disease, as well as other conditions which might not be apparent to you at home. With early detection, many of these diseases may be easily treated or even prevented.

Vaccine Recommendations

  • DAPP: Distemper virus, Adenovirus or hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza
    • 8, 12, 16 weeks, then 1 year later booster with the 1 year product, then the 3 yr  DAP product the  following year.

  • Rabies:
    • 16 weeks, then 3 yr duration product in 1 year.

  • Bordetella/Kennel Cough:
    • Intranasal as early as 3 weeks, then booster in 1-2 months with injectable, then yearly with injectable.
      This is a non-core vaccine and is recommended for dogs with exposure to boarding/kenneling situations, dog parks, pet supply stores and for grooming patients.

  • Leptospirosis:
    • This is a series of 2 injections recommended to dogs that hunt and have wildlife/livestock exposure.

  • Heartworm Testing and Preventative:
    • The American Heartworm Society www.heartwormsociety.org recommends monthly preventative year round and yearly blood testing. We have been testing every 2 years and recommending preventative during mosquito season, May-October. Since the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the CAPC(Companion Animal Parasite Council) www.capcvet.org have their guidelines recommending year-round product use, we feel it is the safest policy to treat monthly, especially if you have young children and the pets are exposed to the outdoors.

Flea and tick Products:

Luckily in Montana, we don’t see fleas very often. But we certainly have ticks. Any pets that go outside or have exposure to open grassy areas can be exposed to ticks. They can come in our houses on us, also. The tick season is mainly in early spring through summer, but pets that are outside in the fall can still be a risk from the deer populations moving around. We recommend Frontline. It is a monthly topical product that is spotted on the skin, is waterproof in 2 hours and is safe for cats and young pets.

Feline Vaccine Recommendations: A New Protocol

The use of vaccines to prevent and control infectious disease is an accepted and necessary method of preventative health care in veterinary medicine.  However, vaccinating every patient against every possible disease on an annual basis carries risks and may be harmful.  In fact, in 1991 veterinarians began to notice a higher than expected number of tumors (called sarcomas) occurring at the sites of vaccine injections in cats.  The incidence of these injection-associated sarcomas is 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 10,000 cats.  The incidence of this tumor in combination with recent research on the duration of vaccine efficacy has led the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Academy of Feline Medicine to propose new guidelines for revaccination of cats.

Although no age group can be considered entirely free from risk, kittens (less than 6 months of age) are generally more susceptible to infection than adult cats following exposure and therefore, represent the principal target population for feline vaccination protocols.  The following recommendations are simply guidelines, and we will design a vaccination program specifically for your cat that protects against infectious disease and is as safe as possible. 

Even with this new conservative protocol, some cats may have vaccine reactions.  Many cats may be lethargic or sore after vaccination, which is a normal response.  However, if you notice that your cat vomits, stops eating, or develops a lump at the site of the vaccine injection, or other signs of illness, please call the hospital as soon as possible.

 

Annual and Bi-Annual Exams

Regardless of the vaccines that your cat may require, we recommend a physical exam every 6-12 months to evaluate your pet’s health. Remember cats’ age faster than humans. Every 1 year of your pet’s life is equivalent to 5-6 human years. During these regular checkups your veterinarian can identify any developing problems including dental disease, heart disease, and other diseases which might not be apparent to you at home.  With early detection, many of these diseases may be treated or even prevented.  Although our vaccine protocol has changed, an exam every six months with a veterinarian is still crucial to insure your cat’s continued health.

Vaccine Recommendations
  • FVRCP(C): Recommendation for vaccination series: A series of 3 vaccines:
    • 1st at 8 weeks, 2nd at 12 weeks, the last after 14-16 weeks
    • If older than12 weeks of age: 2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart
    • Booster interval: 1 year later, then every 3 years
    • Chlamydia is included in the kitten series but isn’t in adult cats unless they are outdoor cats.

  • Rabies: Recommendation for vaccination series:
    • 16 weeks: do not vaccinate
    • 16 weeks: 1 dose
    • Booster Interval: 3 year booster after 1 years

  • FeLV (feline leukemia): Recommendations for vaccination series:
    • 2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart beginning at 10 weeks of age or older
    • Booster Interval: 1 year later, then at doctor’s discretion depending on patient’s risk factors.

Note: Annual retesting is recommended for FELV and FIV for all indoor/outdoor cats.

FIV vaccine is not recommended. We use it for cats with a positive FIV housemate.

Deworming:

Annual internal parasite screens or fecals are required every year to help detect parasites. Cats that are big hunters should be dewormed up to every other month. We know are using a topical dewormer that has broad spectrum control even for tapeworms.

Flea and tick Products:

Luckily in Montana, we don’t see fleas very often. But we certainly have ticks. Any pets that go outside or have exposure to open grassy areas can be exposed to ticks. They can come in our houses on us, also. The tick season is mainly in early spring through summer, but pets that are outside in the fall can still be a risk from the deer populations moving around. We recommend Frontline. It is a monthly topical product that is spotted on the skin, is waterproof in 2 hours and is safe for cats and young pets.

 

 
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