Dog and Cat Vaccines

To ensure delivery, please add us to your email contacts. View this email in your browser 2015 Quarter 2 Companion Animal Newsletter Annual Vaccinations Keeping your pet up to date on vaccines can prevent them from getting many diseases. All of the diseases that we recommend annual vaccinations for are transmitted from animal to animal, and some of them can also affect people. Vaccinating your pet every year enables you to protect yourself, other people, and other animals from these diseases. Rabies Vaccine All dogs and cats should receive vaccines for rabies. If the animal is kept up to date, booster vaccines are good for three years. Rabies is a viral disease that can affect any mammal, including humans. It is transmitted through saliva, usually by a bite from an infected animal. Dogs and cats typically get the furious form of the disease, which involves aggressive behavior changes, slobbering, incoordination, seizures, and progressive paralysis. The paralytic form is also possible, which includes incoordination, paralysis of the throat and chewing muscles, excessive salivation, and inability to swallow. Regardless of the form, once clinical signs are seen, the disease is always fatal. Even indoor-only pets are at risk for the disease if they get outside or if an infected animal, such as a bat, gets into your home. Also, if your pet bites someone, the repercussions are much more severe if the animal is not up to date on its rabies vaccine. It is very important to keep your pets up to date on rabies vaccines to protect the animal, yourself, and others. Species-Specific Vaccines Dogs DHLPP Vaccine: Combination vaccine that we recommend annually.  We may do a DHPP vaccine instead on certain dogs with low risk of exposure to Leptospirosis. The DHLPP vaccine contains the following: Canine Distemper: Viral disease that affects many different systems of the body including the upper and lower respiratory systems, GI tract, eyes, and brain. Transmitted by close contact and aerosol droplets from infected animals. Hepatitis: Viral disease that affects the throat, lungs, eyes, liver, kidneys, GI tract, brain, and other organs. Spread in body fluids from infected and recovered animals via aerosol, direct contact, or indirect contact. Leptospirosis: Very contagious bacterial disease that can also affect people. Typically picked up through water sources that are shared with wildlife. Signs vary from mild sickness to severe illness and death. Many dogs develop kidney failure and permanent kidney damage. Parvovirus: Highly contagious virus that causes severe bloody diarrhea, malnourishment, and dehydration. Can also affect other organs including the heart, lungs, and brain. Spreads in bodily fluids. Very hardy in the environment. Parainfluenza: Very contagious viral disease that is part of the "kennel cough complex." Causes coughing, nasal discharge, fever, lethargy, and anorexia. Bordatella Vaccine: Recommended for dogs that have close contact with other dogs. Prevents a bacterial component of the "kennel cough complex." Required by many groomers and boarding facilities. Lyme Vaccine: Recommended for dogs that have a lot of exposure to ticks. Lyme Disease is carried by ticks and causes a variety of problems for dogs, most commonly lameness and joint pain. Cats DRC Vaccine: Combination vaccine that we recommend annually. Contains the following: Feline Distemper: Highly contagious viral disease that causes low white blood cell count, immunosuppression, and possible death. Transmitted by close contact with infected animals or their feces. Rhinotracheitis: Viral disease that is one of the most common causes of upper respiratory disease in cats. Calicivirus: Virus that causes upper respiratory infections and lesions in the mouth. Can cause systemic disease that can be fatal. Transmitted by close contact with infected animals and aerosol transmission. Feline Leukemia Virus: We recommend this vaccine in multi-cat households, cats that came from farms, and cats that go outside. Before vaccinating, we run a test to check for the disease. The animal must be at least 12 weeks old to be tested. Feline Leukemia can manifest in different ways, including immune-mediated disease, immune suppression, lymphosarcoma or fibrosarcoma (cancer), anemia, and others. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: We recommend this vaccine in multi-cat households with a history or high risk of FIV and for cats that go outside. FIV causes weight loss, recurrent fever, bone marrow and white blood cell changes, and behavioral changes. Be sure to check out our new website! leecovet.com 1568 Pilot Grove Rd West Point, Iowa 52656 leecovet.com Phone: 319-837-6511 Fax: 319-837-6512 leecovet@gmail.com Copyright *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.