Vaccinations
 What are vaccines?
Vaccines are products designed to trigger protective immune
responses in pets and prepare them to fight future infections
from disease-causing agents.
Vaccines can lessen the severity of future diseases and certain
vaccines can prevent infection altogether. Today, a variety of vaccines
are available for use by veterinarians. Some vaccines are administered
via injections using a syringe and needle, and others are administered
into the animal’s nose or directly into the skin (transdermally).
Other methods of administration are currently under development.
Is it important to vaccinate?
Yes! Pets should be vaccinated to protect
them from many highly contagious and
deadly diseases. Experts agree that widespread
use of vaccines within the last century has
prevented death and disease in millions of
animals. If an unvaccinated pet develops one
of these diseases, treatment can become very
expensive and many of these diseases can be
fatal despite treatment. Even though some
formerly common diseases have now become
uncommon, vaccination is still highly
recommended because these serious disease agents continue to be
present in the environment.
It is also important to remember that pets can be vaccinated for
some zoonotic (pronounced ZOE-oh-not-ick) diseases, which are
diseases that can be spread from animals to people. For example,
rabies is a serious, often fatal, disease that can spread from infected
animals to people. By vaccinating your pets for rabies, you are
protecting your family as well as your pet.
Does vaccination ensure protection?
For most pets, vaccination is effective in preventing future
disease. Occasionally, a vaccinated pet may not develop
adequate immunity and, although rare, it is possible for these pets
to become ill if exposed to the disease. These gaps in protection
should be as short as possible to provide optimal protection against
disease for the first few months of life. It is important to remember
that although breakdowns in protection do occur, most appropriately
vaccinated pets are able to successfully fight off disease — reinforcing
the importance of vaccines in your pet's preventive health care
program.
Are there risks?
Any treatment carries some risk, but these risks should be
weighed against the benefits of protecting your pet from
potentially fatal diseases. Most pets respond well to vaccines. The
most common adverse responses are mild and short-term, including
fever, sluggishness, and reduced appetite. Pets may also experience
temporary pain or subtle swelling at the site of vaccination. Although most adverse reactions will resolve within a day or two, any excessive
or continued pain, swelling, or listlessness should be discussed with
your veterinarian.
Rarely, more serious adverse reactions can occur. Allergic reactions
appear within minutes or hours of a vaccination and may include
repeated vomiting or diarrhea, whole body itching, swelling of the
face or legs, difficulty breathing or collapse. Contact your veterinarian
immediately if any of these symptoms are seen. In very rare instances,
death could occur from an allergic reaction. There are other
uncommon but serious adverse reactions, including injection site
tumors (sarcomas) in cats, which can develop weeks or months after
a vaccination. The best advice is to always tell your veterinarian
about any abnormalities you notice after your pet has been vaccinated.
 Why do puppies and kittens require a series
of vaccinations?
Very young puppies and kittens are highly susceptible to
infectious diseases because their immune systems are not fully
mature. While nursing, their mother’s milk
contains antibodies (special proteins) that
provide some immunity to diseases; however,
these maternal antibodies do not last long,
and there may be gaps in protection as the
milk antibodies decrease and the puppy's or
kitten's immune system isn’t yet capable of
fighting off infection. In many instances, the
first dose of a vaccine serves to prime the pet’s
immune system against the virus or bacteria
while subsequent doses help to further
stimulate the immune system to produce the
antibodies needed to protect a pet from
specific diseases. To keep these gaps in
protection as small as possible and to provide optimal protection
against disease in the first few months of life, a series of vaccinations
are scheduled, usually 3-4 weeks apart. For most puppies and kittens,
the final vaccination in the series is administered at about 4 months
of age; however, in some situations, a veterinarian may alter this
schedule based on an individual animal’s risk factors. Remember
that an incomplete series of vaccinations may lead to incomplete
protection, making puppies and kittens vulnerable to infection.
Which vaccinations should my pet receive?
Not all pets should be vaccinated with all available vaccines."Core" vaccines are recommended for most pets in a particular
area because they protect from diseases most common in that area."Non-Core" vaccines are reserved for individual pets with unique
needs. Your veterinarian will consider your pet's risk of exposure
to a variety of preventable diseases in order to customize a vaccination
program for optimal protection throughout your pet’s life. Talk
with your veterinarian about your pet's lifestyle including its expected
travel to other geographic locations and/or contact with other
animals (such as exposure at kennels, obedience classes, shows, and
dog parks) since these factors impact your pet's risk of exposure
to certain diseases. For older pets, make sure your veterinarian is
aware of any previous adverse reactions to vaccines.
Diseases you should vaccinate your pet against!
How often should my pet be vaccinated?
For many years, a set of annual vaccinations was considered
normal and necessary for dogs and cats. There is increasing
evidence to support that immunity triggered by some vaccines
provides protection beyond one year while the immunity triggered
by other vaccines may fail to protect for a full year. Consequently,
one vaccination schedule will not work well for all pets. Your
veterinarian will determine a vaccination schedule most appropriate
for your pet.
What are antibody titers, and do they
replace vaccination?
Antibody titers are blood tests that measure the amount
of antibodies in the blood. Following exposure to a disease causing
organism (such as a virus) or a vaccine, the body generates
antibodies that help to destroy the organism and prevent or minimize
illness if the body is exposed to the same organism again.
Antibody titers do not replace vaccination programs, but in some
instances may help your veterinarian determine if your pet has a
reasonable expectation of protection against disease. However,
there are only a limited number of disease-causing organisms for
which antibody titers can suggest your pet’s level of protection,
and those antibody tests have limitations. Consequently, a higher
antibody titer does not necessarily mean your pet will be protected
if exposed to the disease, and a lower titer may not mean your
pet’s protection is lacking.
A final thought
Many factors are taken into consideration when establishing a pet's
vaccination plan. Your veterinarian will tailor a program of vaccinations
and patient health care that will help your pet maintain a lifetime
of infectious disease protection.
* The above information was provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association. |
