VETERINARY
ASSOCIATES STONEFIELDThursday, February 19, 2004
VACCINATION GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTION FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM
Routine vaccination of dogs and cats on an ANNUAL BASIS, has been the accepted standard of care in our profession for twenty to thirty years. This has changed. Vaccines are now known to provide longer immunity than the manufacturers have suggested on their labels. Vaccines have become ASSOCIATED with several serious conditions in our furry family members. We apologize for the inconvenience created by making a simple yearly visit so complicated. However, we must do this now in light of the well known, well documented potential hazards associated with repeated annual vaccinations.
In dogs, repeated annual vaccines have become associated with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia. If your pet has had one of these serious systemic reactions, then further vaccination should probably not be done. Rather, a three year Rabies vaccine should be given, when due, and vaccination titers should be monitored on an Annual basis. Once titers are falling below acceptable levels, then we can discuss whether or not to re-vaccinate against Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, and Herpesvirus. If your dog is exposed to horses and cattle, or the runoff water from a neighbor’s horses or cattle, then Leptopirosis vaccine should also be considered.
Cats are different than dogs. Autoimmune thrombocytpenia occurs in cats but at a much lower rate than in dogs. Still if your cat has a systemic reaction to a vaccine, a complete blood count (CBC) should be performed to determine if thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets) or anemia (low red blood cells) have occurred and appropriate treatment should be instituted. The biggest issue in cats with injectable vaccines today is fibrosarcoma induced by the vaccination. These lesions may start up to six years after a vaccine. Any lump or bump under the skin of a cat, especially near a vaccination site, should be immediately biopsied. These tumors are aggressive and deadly, but if caught early and aggressively removed surgically then your kitty will be fine. For several years now, we at Veterinary Associates-Stonefield have greatly decreased the frequency of vaccination in cats. We no longer recommend Leukemia vaccine IF your cat is never outdoors. We recommend a three- year Rabies vaccine if your cat is over one-year of age.
And we now recommend FVR-CP vaccines be repeated only after titers for these diseases have been proven to fall below acceptable levels, or every three years. We do not and never have recommended FIP ( Feline Infectious Peritonitis) vaccine in cats, since it is our opinion that this vaccine may induce the disease.
Three year Rabies vaccines should not induce in you the notion that your pet only needs to be seen by a veterinarian once every three years. This is our worst nightmare, as annual, or better yet, bi-annual (every 6 months) physical examinations help prevent potentially life threatening illnesses. I will list for you just a few of the things that are often picked up on a routine physical examination, that if not detected for a year, or God forbid, three year period would have been life-threatening situations:
DISEASES/ SYNDROMES DETECTED ON PHYSICAL EXAM THAT HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED BY THE OWNER (THE PET WAS SHOWING NO CLINICAL SIGNS)
1) Periodontal disease- probably the most common one! Dirty teeth with calculus formation tend to shower the bloodstream with bacteria, the kidneys are the ultimate filter for these bacteria. We see way too many pets with life-threatening kidney disease at 7-9 years of age, that would have been prevented with dentals beginning two-three years before. These bacteria also can deposit on heart valves producing bacterial valvular endocardiosis. All this can be prevented with routine dental cleaning and antibiotic therapy. I clearly remember a Greyhound, who had a very poor immune system, who died of this heart valve disease secondary to severe periodontal disease.
2) Lymphosarcoma of the spleen. In certain breeds lymphosarcoma is common, the spleen is a usually easily palpable (the vet can feel it) organ in the belly. Enlargement tells us to perform x-rays, blood work and biopsy. Early removal of a lymphosarcoma spleen can save a life.
3) Keratoconjunctivitis sicca DRY EYE. In some breeds the tear producing glands of the eyelids stop or slow their production of tears. When the eye becomes too dry over a period of time, the cornea starts depositing pigment, which can lead to blindness. A routine physical and tear production test can identify this disease and proper therapy can keep your pet seeing you clearly for years to come!
4) Any cancer of the oral cavity. The mouth is a hard place for owners, and sometimes veterinarians, to look in to and see well. Just this month, Dr. Karen Lazas, scheduled a dental for a Weirmaner, based on physical examination for a yearly visit. Upon close inspection of the tongue, while the patient was under anesthesia, a tumor was found in the tongue, it was immediately removed and sent to the lab. This was a highly malignant tumor, the owner would not have noticed this for at least 6 months to a year. By then, spread (metastasis) of the tumor to the lungs and other vital organs would have certainly occurred.
5) Heart murmurs. These are very common in poodles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. When detected early, before clinical signs appear, they are very effectively diagnosed (EKG and X-RAYS) and treated, literally putting years of happy life into your pet.
6) Anemia- the decrease of red blood cells. There are many causes of anemia, from chronic (long-term) infection to malignant tumors. Again,early recognition is usually not possible to the owner, but easily detectable by your veterianarian. Subsequent diagnosis and treatment are often life-saving.
These are just a few reasons for maintaining your annual visits. If your pet is as close to you as mine are to me, I would recommend an exam every six months, for extra protection in detecting potentially life-threatening illnesses. By catching them early we can often change the course of disease and have your pet in your life, happy and healthy for many years to come!
Routine vaccination of dogs and cats on an ANNUAL BASIS, has been the accepted standard of care in our profession for twenty to thirty years. This has changed. Vaccines are now known to provide longer immunity than the manufacturers have suggested on their labels. Vaccines have become ASSOCIATED with several serious conditions in our furry family members. We apologize for the inconvenience created by making a simple yearly visit so complicated. However, we must do this now in light of the well known, well documented potential hazards associated with repeated annual vaccinations.
In dogs, repeated annual vaccines have become associated with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia. If your pet has had one of these serious systemic reactions, then further vaccination should probably not be done. Rather, a three year Rabies vaccine should be given, when due, and vaccination titers should be monitored on an Annual basis. Once titers are falling below acceptable levels, then we can discuss whether or not to re-vaccinate against Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, and Herpesvirus. If your dog is exposed to horses and cattle, or the runoff water from a neighbor’s horses or cattle, then Leptopirosis vaccine should also be considered.
Cats are different than dogs. Autoimmune thrombocytpenia occurs in cats but at a much lower rate than in dogs. Still if your cat has a systemic reaction to a vaccine, a complete blood count (CBC) should be performed to determine if thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets) or anemia (low red blood cells) have occurred and appropriate treatment should be instituted. The biggest issue in cats with injectable vaccines today is fibrosarcoma induced by the vaccination. These lesions may start up to six years after a vaccine. Any lump or bump under the skin of a cat, especially near a vaccination site, should be immediately biopsied. These tumors are aggressive and deadly, but if caught early and aggressively removed surgically then your kitty will be fine. For several years now, we at Veterinary Associates-Stonefield have greatly decreased the frequency of vaccination in cats. We no longer recommend Leukemia vaccine IF your cat is never outdoors. We recommend a three- year Rabies vaccine if your cat is over one-year of age.
And we now recommend FVR-CP vaccines be repeated only after titers for these diseases have been proven to fall below acceptable levels, or every three years. We do not and never have recommended FIP ( Feline Infectious Peritonitis) vaccine in cats, since it is our opinion that this vaccine may induce the disease.
Three year Rabies vaccines should not induce in you the notion that your pet only needs to be seen by a veterinarian once every three years. This is our worst nightmare, as annual, or better yet, bi-annual (every 6 months) physical examinations help prevent potentially life threatening illnesses. I will list for you just a few of the things that are often picked up on a routine physical examination, that if not detected for a year, or God forbid, three year period would have been life-threatening situations:
DISEASES/ SYNDROMES DETECTED ON PHYSICAL EXAM THAT HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED BY THE OWNER (THE PET WAS SHOWING NO CLINICAL SIGNS)
1) Periodontal disease- probably the most common one! Dirty teeth with calculus formation tend to shower the bloodstream with bacteria, the kidneys are the ultimate filter for these bacteria. We see way too many pets with life-threatening kidney disease at 7-9 years of age, that would have been prevented with dentals beginning two-three years before. These bacteria also can deposit on heart valves producing bacterial valvular endocardiosis. All this can be prevented with routine dental cleaning and antibiotic therapy. I clearly remember a Greyhound, who had a very poor immune system, who died of this heart valve disease secondary to severe periodontal disease.
2) Lymphosarcoma of the spleen. In certain breeds lymphosarcoma is common, the spleen is a usually easily palpable (the vet can feel it) organ in the belly. Enlargement tells us to perform x-rays, blood work and biopsy. Early removal of a lymphosarcoma spleen can save a life.
3) Keratoconjunctivitis sicca DRY EYE. In some breeds the tear producing glands of the eyelids stop or slow their production of tears. When the eye becomes too dry over a period of time, the cornea starts depositing pigment, which can lead to blindness. A routine physical and tear production test can identify this disease and proper therapy can keep your pet seeing you clearly for years to come!
4) Any cancer of the oral cavity. The mouth is a hard place for owners, and sometimes veterinarians, to look in to and see well. Just this month, Dr. Karen Lazas, scheduled a dental for a Weirmaner, based on physical examination for a yearly visit. Upon close inspection of the tongue, while the patient was under anesthesia, a tumor was found in the tongue, it was immediately removed and sent to the lab. This was a highly malignant tumor, the owner would not have noticed this for at least 6 months to a year. By then, spread (metastasis) of the tumor to the lungs and other vital organs would have certainly occurred.
5) Heart murmurs. These are very common in poodles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. When detected early, before clinical signs appear, they are very effectively diagnosed (EKG and X-RAYS) and treated, literally putting years of happy life into your pet.
6) Anemia- the decrease of red blood cells. There are many causes of anemia, from chronic (long-term) infection to malignant tumors. Again,early recognition is usually not possible to the owner, but easily detectable by your veterianarian. Subsequent diagnosis and treatment are often life-saving.
These are just a few reasons for maintaining your annual visits. If your pet is as close to you as mine are to me, I would recommend an exam every six months, for extra protection in detecting potentially life-threatening illnesses. By catching them early we can often change the course of disease and have your pet in your life, happy and healthy for many years to come!
