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02.04.10
Pet Vaccinations
Even though they may be taken for granted, pet vaccinations are
vital for your pet. Properly vaccinating your pet is a very
important part of pet care because vaccines can potentially help
protect your pet against some serious health conditions and
diseases.
"Vaccines are a suspension of altered microorganisms which will
prevent, lessen, or treat disease without causing the disease,";
notes Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical assistant professor at the Texas
A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences.
Vaccines are still considered the cornerstone of preventive
medicine. Knowing the different types of vaccinations and how they
work can help pet caregivers provide optimum care for their
animals.
"There are live, killed, modified live, and recombinant
vaccinations,"; states Stickney. "By exposing the immune system to
bacteria or viruses that are genetically similar to the ones that
will cause disease, the immune system will develop antibodies that
protect the body when it encounters the actual disease-causing
organism.";
Some pet vaccines can be purchased over-the-counter and given by
non-veterinarians notes Stickney. However, he says that there may
be quality control issues with vaccines if you are not familiar
with the correct way to store and use them.
"By law, certain vaccines, like rabies vaccine, can only be
given by your veterinarian,"; states Stickney. "Your veterinarian
is also the best person to determine which vaccines your pet needs
and how frequently they should be administered.";
Stickney says, "All puppies and kittens should receive the
rabies vaccine at three months of age and again at one year of age.
Vaccination schedules vary depending on the area of the country you
are in and the prevalence of different diseases in that area.";
Stickney stresses that puppies should be vaccinated for
distemper virus, adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza, and
kittens should be vaccinated for viral rhinotracheitis,
calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Other vaccinations may also be
recommended depending on the lifestyle of your pet.
"Booster shots are necessary in puppies and kittens to overcome
"maternal immunity";, where the antibodies that the puppies and
kittens acquired from their mother provide some protection but
eventually break down,"; explains Stickney. "Vaccines are
ineffective in the face of maternal immunity and the puppy and
kitten series of vaccines is necessary to protect the pet during
the time when the maternal immunity disappears. Booster shots
remind the immune system of diseases it is supposed to protect
against.";
Stickney notes that the frequency at which adult animals should
receive booster vaccines has been a topic of debate among
veterinarians for years. Increasingly, we have evidence that most
vaccines do not need to be boosted every year and that the risk of
an animal catching certain diseases decreases with age. Your
veterinarian will be able to tailor a vaccine protocol to the
specific lifestyle of your pet.
"No vaccine is 100% effective,"; Stickney explains, "It is
possible to overwhelm any vaccine and immune system with exposure
to enough disease-causing organisms.";
Additionally, he notes that adverse reactions can occur from
vaccinations. They are most likely to occur the second time an
animal receives a vaccine. They usually occur within minutes to six
hours of vaccination.
"There are two types of reactions commonly seen, anaphylactic
and delayed hypersensitivity,"; explains Stickney. "Delayed
hypersensitivity reactions are more common and less serious. The
pet becomes itchy and the face and ears swell. These reactions can
usually be treated with antihistamines.";
"Anaphylactic reactions are less common, but serious and
life-threatening,"; notes Stickney. "The animal rapidly collapses
and goes into shock. Epinephrine and intravenous fluids are
necessary to treat the animal.";
Stickney notes that if your pet ever had an allergic reaction to
a vaccine, it is important to let your veterinarian know. Even pets
that are allergic to a specific vaccine typically have no problems
if they are treated with antihistamines before vaccinations.
Remember, vaccines are health products that signal protective
immune responses in your pet and your veterinarian can best guide
you in the use and scheduling of vaccinations for your pet.
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