What Your Pets are Getting and Why
Vaccines work by causing your pet’s body to produce antibodies against the virus/disease. Vaccination is crucial to keeping your pet protected.
Rabies
In Michigan, the rabies vaccination is legally required for all dogs over 4 months of age.
The rabies virus is transmitted by saliva through the bite of an infected animal. Animals that can spread rabies are bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes. It is recommended that both cats and dogs get this vaccine to keep them protected from contracting this deadly virus. It also provides a secondary level of defense for you and your family.
Distemper
Cats:
(FVRCP Vaccine)
Feline distemper is a highly contagious and life-threatening disease which affects the intestinal tract and bone marrow. This leads to an anaemic condition that leaves the cat susceptible to other illnesses.
Feline distemper is spread through infected blood, feces, urine or by fleas that are passed on from infected cats. Symptoms include vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, poor coat quality, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weakness.
Dogs:
(DHPP Vaccine)
Canine distemper is a highly contagious and often fatal disease that can affect dogs. It is an airborne virus that is also spread through contact with items like clothing, dog brushes, shared food, shared water bowls or other utensils. It can also be passed on via fresh urine or blood.
Symptoms include discharge from eyes and nose, thickened paw pads, coughing, lethargy, and fever.
Leptospirosis
(Lepto Vaccine)
Leptospira attaches to cells that line blood vessels which can make it harder for blood to clot normally. The bacteria spreads throughout the body and affects organs, most notably the liver and kidneys. Signs can range from mild to sever, and sometimes become life-threatening. The most common way dogs get lepto is through water contaminated with urine (puddles, ponds, or lakes). Another source is from contact with urine-contaminated soil, bedding, or food. Signs of lepto in dogs include fever or decreased appetite, weakness or reluctance to move, diarrhea, increased drinking, and jaundice.
Feline Leukemia
(FeLV)
Feline Leukemia virus is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats, affecting between about 3% of all cats in the United States. FeLV adversely affects a cat’s body in many ways. It’s the most common cause of cancer in cats, may cause various blood disorders, and may lead to a state of immune deficiency that hinders a cat’s ability to protect itself against other infections. Fortunately, the prevalence of FeLV in cats has decreased drastically in the past 25 years since the development of an effective vaccine
Symptoms include pale gums, enlarged lymph nodes, jaundice, respiratory infections, poor coat condition, weight loss, kidney problems, and anemia.
Kennel Cough
(Bordetella)
Bordetella bronchisephtica causes inflammation of your dog’s upper respiratory system. This inflammation leads to coughing, illness, and can expose your dog to secondary infections. Kennel Cough is highly contagious and spreads quickly between dogs. Common symptoms include a consistent dry, hacking cough, retching with white foam, lethargy, loss of appetite, and a fever.
This is not a core vaccine, but is recommended to dogs that are frequently exposed to other dogs (via Groomers, Dog Parks, Boarding Facilities, Training Classes, or Dog Shows).
Influenza
(Canine Influenza)
The canine influenza virus is one of several pathogens that can cause respiratory disease in dogs. There are currently two strains of influenza. One is the H3N8 strain and the other is the H3N2 strain.
The virus can spread from one dog to another through direct contact with respiratory secretions (coughing and sneezing) and contact with contaminated objects (toys, bedding, food/water bowls, etc.).
Borrelia (Lyme Disease)
(Lyme Vaccine)
Lyme Disease is present in every state. Over 95% of cases are from the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and the Pacific Coast. Lyme Disease is, unfortunately, becoming overwhelmingly common. Symptoms include a fever, loss of appetite, lameness, and joint swelling.
Lyme Disease could progress into kidney failure, which could be fatal. Serious cardiac and neurological effects could also occur. In addition to your year-round prevention, the annual Lyme vaccine offers you even more peace of mind, getting your pet as close to 100% protected as possible.
