National Immunization Awareness Month

Is Your Pet Up-to-Date on Preventative Health Vaccines?

Vaccines help your pet build immunity against common and serious diseases that can be both difficult and expensive to treat. In this brief overview, we’ll share the core vaccines for dogs and cats. August is a good time to review your pet’s immunization schedule with your veterinarian to see if anything might need updating.

Immunization Awareness: Core Vaccines for Dogs

At Grady Veterinary Hospital, we are proud to be AAHA Accredited, and we follow the latest American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine Vaccination Guidelines. As of 2022’s research, there are five core vaccines for dogs, which means almost every dog should receive them (your veterinarian would help you understand if or why your particular dog might be an exception). These vaccines are for:

1. Distemper: This disease is caused by a virus and can infect several species of mammals. Affecting the lungs, airways, nose, eyes and brain, the illness can be deadly.
2. Adenovirus: This hepatitis viral infection in dogs causes inflammation of the liver. It can spread among the dog family, otters and bears. Cases can be mild to severe, with fatalities mostly occuring in puppies.
3. Parvovirus: This virus is highly contagious and attacks white blood cells, the gastrointestinal tract and heart muscle (in puppies). It affects members of the dog family, and is especially serious for puppies and certain dog breeds.
4. +/- Parainfluenza: Another highly-contagious virus, this one affects the respiratory tract. It’s one of the most common causes of coughing in dogs. The symptoms are similar to influenza, but the viruses are unrelated.
5. Rabies: This viral disease is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. It’s usually spread by the bite of infected animals, and all mammals are susceptible to it, including humans. Fortunately, widespread vaccination in the US means we have very few human or pet cases each year.

Additionally, there are five more common vaccines that may be beneficial for many dogs, depending on the family’s lifestyle and possible risk factors. These address:

1. Leptospirosa: This common zoonotic disease affects pets, farm animals and humans. It’s a bacteria that spreads through urine, and urine-contaminated soil or water.
2. Lyme disease: Carried by certain ticks, this vaccine could be important for anyone who lives near or visits tick-friendly environments like forests or fields.
3. Bordetella: “Kennel cough” is caused by a contagious bacteria. Many kennels require vaccination before a dog can board.
4. Canine influenza: “Dog flu” is a highly-contagious respiratory virus that has occasionally been diagnosed in cats, as well.
5. Rattlesnake toxoid: For pet owners in the Western US, where diamondback rattlesnakes are common, this vaccine can be life-saving.

Immunization Awareness: Core Vaccines for Cats

Cats have their own Feline Vaccination Guidelines from American Animal Hospital Association. Pet and shelter cats share five core vaccine recommendations to prevent these diseases:

1. FHV-1: Feline herpesvirus 1 causes eye and upper respiratory infections in cats.
2. FCV: Feline calicivirus is highly contagious, and it also causes upper respiratory infections in cats.
3. FPV: Feline panleukopenia virus is also called feline distemper. It’s another highly-contagious virus, and can be fatal in kittens.
4. Rabies: A rabies infection is almost always fatal, and this virus can infect mammals (including humans). It’s critical to vaccinate against is.
5. FeLV: This vaccination is core for cats younger than one year and prevents feline leukemia virus. It is a retrovirus, which can become incorporated in the cat’s genome. This infection is typically fatal over time.

If your cat has certain health concerns or participates in activity outside the home, like boarding, your veterinarian may recommend further vaccinations.

• FeLV: Sometimes, for cats older than one year old.
• Chlamydia felis: This bacterial infection affects cat’s eyes or upper respiratory tract.
• Bordetella bronchiseptica: The same contagious bacteria that infects dogs can cause upper respiratory disease in cats.

Preventative health care is so important for our pets! For more information and tips, see our Dog Health Resources and Cat Health Resources.