Vaccines are an easy way to prevent your cat from getting sick with serious, sometimes fatal, diseases. Groomers or boarding kennels may require vaccinations to prevent the spread of diseases in close quarters. Your veterinarian can discuss with you which vaccines your cat needs and how often to get them.
Core Vaccines:
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV): This virus is one of the leading causes of death in cats. FeLV is spread from cat to cat through grooming, biting, or nursing. It can lead to a suppressed immune system, anemia, leukemia, and other issues.
Herpesvirus and calicivirus: Highly contagious viruses that most often affect young kittens over the age of 6 weeks. They are spread by other infected cats or contact with contaminated environments where infected cats have been.
Panleukopenia: Also called distemper, this highly contagious viral disease most commonly affects kittens. It can be spread through the air, contact with infected animals, or contaminated environments or objects.
Rabies: A serious, fatal viral infection that affects a cat’s central nervous system. It’s usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal but can also be spread when an infected animal’s saliva comes in contact with broken skin through licking, drooling, etc. Rabies vaccinations are required in most states.
Non-core vaccines
Non-core vaccines are given depending on the cat’s lifestyle; these include vaccines for Bordetella, Chlamydophila felis, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Your veterinarian can determine what vaccines are best for your pet.
While the thought of your beloved pet developing cancer may be frightening, many types of the disease are treatable if caught early. Be on the lookout for these warning signs and contact your veterinarian if you see anything concerning.
Kennel cough, also known as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC), is a highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract with both viral and bacterial causes. It is commonly spread in places where dogs are in close contact, such as boarding kennels, doggie daycares, dog parks, grooming salons, or dog shows. When an infected dog coughs, droplets travel through the air, infecting nearby dogs. Kennel cough can also be spread through direct contact with contaminated objects like water bowls, toys, and bedding.
Do you know how to recognize pain in your pet? Some signs are more obvious, such as limping or yelping, while others are more subtle, such as excessive grooming or a change in litter box habits. September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, which is a good time to get to know the signs that your pet may be suffering. Be on the lookout for the following behaviors and call your veterinarian if you think your pet is in pain. Never try to treat your pet with human medications since many of them are toxic to animals.
Vaccines are an easy way to prevent your dog from getting sick with serious, sometimes fatal, diseases. Groomers, daycare, or boarding kennels may require vaccinations to prevent the spread of diseases in close quarters. Your veterinarian can discuss with you which vaccines your dog needs and how often to get them.
Core Vaccines
Core vaccines are considered vital to all pets based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans.
Distemper: A very contagious, often fatal virus that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. The virus spreads through the air and vaccination is the only way to effectively prevent or control it.
Hepatitis: A disease caused by a virus that affects the liver and cells lining the blood vessels. It can cause a high fever, swelling, and uncontrolled bleeding.
Parainfluenza: A very contagious disease that attacks the respiratory system. It is spread through contact with infected dogs or through the air.
Parvovirus: A very contagious viral infection that affects a dog’s gastrointestinal tract and immune system and can cause sudden death. It’s spread by contact with the infected poop of other dogs, contaminated environments or objects, or even people with the virus on them. This infection can be life-threatening in puppies.
Rabies: A serious, fatal viral infection that affects a dog’s central nervous system. It’s usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal but can also be spread when an infected animal’s saliva comes in contact with broken skin (through licking, drooling, etc.). Rabies vaccinations are required in most states.
Non-Core Vaccines
Bordetella: This bacteria causes what’s commonly known as “kennel cough” and affects the respiratory system of a dog. It is spread in places where there are many dogs in contact with each other, like kennels, grooming facilities, and dog shows. Puppies are at the highest risk, but adult dogs can get sick too.
Canine Influenza: Canine influenza (also known as dog flu) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by specific viruses known to infect dogs. There is now a single vaccine to prevent both the H3N2 and H3N8 strains of the virus. The vaccination series requires a booster shot two weeks after the initial vaccination. Vaccines take 3-4 weeks to provide immunity.
Leptospirosis: A disease that can cause permanent kidney damage. It spreads through contact with nasal secretions, urine, or saliva of infected animals. Rats, mice, squirrels, and other rodents are common carriers of the bacteria.
Lyme disease: A tick-borne disease that causes inflammation of the joints and can cause lameness. Some dogs may also develop kidney problems.
