Cat Vaccines

                            

               Cat Vaccines                     

What are we vaccinating for again???                                                                                                                                                                                                              

         Cats have been getting a bum rap for quite some time as far as vaccines are concerned.  There are quite a few diseases in the cat world that can be prevented by vaccination.  We figured we would take this opportunity to discuss in detail the viruses that are included in our routine “Cat Annual” vaccines. 

FVR stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, C stands for Calicivirus

The first group of viruses that we would like to discuss are what I like to call the upper respiratory group, or “FVR” and “C.”  “FVR” stands for feline viral rhinotracheitis.  The actual virus is a herpes virus.  As with most herpes viruses, this virus can rarely be eliminated after initial infection.  FVR is very contagious and typically causes lethargy, upper respiratory, lower respiratory, and eye symptoms.  Kittens and older cats are more affected by the virus, but cats of all ages can be affected.  Just like FVR, “C,” or Calcivirus, causes upper respiratory problems, mouth ulcers, as well as eye discharge and in some cases, deadly pneumonia.  Both of these diseases can be prevented with vaccination. 

P stands for Panleukopenia

The second group of viruses isn’t much of a group, but is dangerous enough to be given its own paragraph.  Panleukopenia virus has been around for some time and is very similar to Parvovirus in dogs.  Highly deadly and easily transmitted from cat to cat, panleukopenia can be easily prevented with vaccination if given earlier enough and frequent enough to kittens. 

FELV stands for Feline Leukemia Virus

Feline Leukemia is a horrible disease swirling around in the cat population.  FELV is the leading killer in our cat population and is contagious as all get out.  We are truly lucky enough to have a vaccine available to prevent this disease.  This disease is spread from infected cats to non-infected cats by bite wounds and also mother cats can transmit their infection to her kittens.  The vaccine is protective and should be considered for each and every cat. 

Rabies stands for Rabies…    

Everybody has seen Ole Yeller.  Well, Rabies shouldn’t just worry dog owners.  Cats are just as susceptible, if not more so than Dogs.  Routinely, wild animals and pets alike are found to have rabies all over Arkansas.  Rabies is transmitted by bite wounds from infected wildlife and pets.  The rabies vaccine is extremely protective and should be given to all your pets, including cats. 

These are the diseases that we are the most concerned about vaccinating against in our cat patients.  If you have any questions about vaccines or the diseases we vaccinate against, please don’t hesitate to call or come by and talk with us about getting your cat vaccinated.                                                                               

Thanks for reading,                                                                                                                                                        Jonathan Bradshaw, D.V.M                                                                                                                                        

South Arkansas Veterinary Hospital                                                                                                                              2920 Pine St                                                                                                                                                         Arkadelphia, AR

A Rundown on Preventable Diseases

Hey Everybody, 

A lot of folks are curious as to what diseases our vaccines help to prevent.  So... Why should I vaccinate my pet every year?  Many diseases can be prevented through yearly vaccinations of your cat and dog. We will discuss each type of disease and the appropriate time you should vaccinate for these nasty bugs.  I'm gonna discuss dog vaccines first and cat vaccines in our next blog.

Yearly vaccines which should be given to every dog yearly include: "DHPP" and Rabies.

DHPP: Also known as “Distemper/Parvo” or “Parvo shot” includes antibodies against a bunch of common viruses in the canine population. Distemper, Adenovirus (types 1 and 2), Parvo virus, and Parainfluenza virus will be described below. We recommend vaccinating adult dogs yearly. Puppies should be vaccinated with this vaccine starting at 6 weeks of age, with 3 booster shots 3 weeks apart (6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12 weeks).

Distemper virus: Often fatal to your dog, causes problems with the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin and nervous system of dogs. This virus can be spread from dog to dog or through “fomites” such as dog bowls, leashes, toys, etc that have been used by infected dogs.

Symptoms include: sneezing, coughing, and thick mucous discharge from the nose and eyes. Other signs include depression, lack of appetite, and can eventually progress to neurologic diseases (like seizures, incoordination, etc).

Adenovirus: This virus can cause liver problems and lung problems. The virus can be spread from dog to dog or contaminated feces or urine.

Parvo virus: this virus is very prevalent in the dog population. This virus can cause severe dehydration, which is usually the cause of death in dogs with this virus. This virus affects the lining of the intestine, causing severe vomiting and diarrhea.  This disease affects puppies(pup to 1 year) so vaccination is recommended starting at 6 weeks.

Parainfluenza virus: this is a type of respiratory virus which can affect dogs of any age. This disease is spread through respiratory secretions of an infected dog and can be spread as airborne.

Rabies: a virus that can affect you and your dog. This virus is always fatal and attacks the nervous system. This disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal (ie: skunk, bat, raccoon, or unvaccinated rabies positive dog). Every domesticated pet should have a yearly rabies vaccination (Arkansas State Law). If any unvaccinated animal bites a person, a mandatory 10 day quarantine is required at a veterinarian hospital. If the animal is suspect to have rabies it must be euthanized and tested for rabies. Rabies testing requires testing the brain tissue of the suspect animal.

Yearly vaccination is required for adult dogs, puppies shall be vaccinated at 4 months of age.

 Bordatella: Also known as “kennel cough”, a respiratory infection and inflammation of the trachea (windpipe). This disease frequently is found in kennels, grooming facilities or other areas where dogs congregate. If you plan on having your dog boarded or groomed then these vaccines are often recommended.

Leptospirosis: “Lepto” a bacterial infection that occurs in dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors near or in water. This bacteria invades the liver and/or kidneys and urine and can cause kidney damage if left untreated. This disease can also be spread to humans through urine of infected animals so appropriate measures should be taken around dogs testing positive for lepto.  A yearly vaccination is recommended if your dog is in or around ponds, streams, and lakes. 

So, these are the basic vaccine components that we worry about with our dog vaccines...  We have been seeing less and less of these diseases with the widespread vaccination of our furry friends.  But, I always worry that if we stop discussing the importance, we may see more and more of them.  If at any time, y'all have any questions about vaccines or anything else, dont be afraid to contact us!

Thanks for reading and hope to see you soon!

Jonathan Bradshaw, DVM