Vaccination

We recommend basic vaccines for all pups and kittens and a “booster” ( re-vaccination) of these vaccinations for adult dogs and cats as is appropriate for the pet’s life style. The basic or “core” vaccines are for those diseases that are most common and /or most serious.

For cats these are:

• Feline viral pneumonitis ( a herpes virus causing severe respiratory tract infections).
• Feline panleukopenia ( a virus that disrupts the formation of white blood cells in the bone marrow)
• Calici virus ( causes severe upper respiratory disease) These vaccines are given as a combination (Abbr.: FVRCP) at 8 & 12 weeks of age, and a booster is given as an adult.

Additional vaccination for cats that spend significant amounts of time outdoors :

• Feline Leukemia ( FeLV)
• Rabies.

Canine vaccines:

Pups:

• Distemper ( a virus causing neurological and respiratory disease)
• Parvo virus ( an intestinal viral disease).

Additional vaccines are added, depending on a dog’s lifestyle:

• Rabies is recommended for most dogs as they are outside to some degree,
• Leptospirosis (a bacteria causing severe kidney disease) transmitted by the urine of infected animals such as rats ,
• Kennel cough complex ( for dogs that attend competitions, go to boarding kennels, daycare or frequent dog parks).

We do not recommend that dogs and cats be vaccinated annually for the “core” diseases as dogs and cats immune systems are very adept at maintaining “ memory” for these diseases, once vaccinated as adults.

Rabies vaccination is required to be given every three years for travel between the U.S. and Canada. Certification of this vaccination is required for crossing the border.

Vaccine titres: A blood test which measures the levels of antibody the patient has for the core viral diseases. Antibody levels at a prescribed minimum are evidence of the immune system having produced sufficient antibody to protect against these diseases.

Most daycare and boarding facilities will accept these titre results as evidence that the individual has been vaccinated, does have ‘vaccine–like’ disease protection and will not pose a threat to other dogs as a potential disease carrier.

Titres are not accepted for rabies vaccination at the U.S.-Canada border.

There are many serious diseases that are controlled and prevented by vaccination. However vaccinations are not harmless: vaccination reactions do occur. There is debate as to what the long-term effects of adverse vaccine reactions may be. Vaccinations must be given with care and with consideration of the risk of disease and the risk to the patients of vaccination.

Vaccines are often required for boarding, attending classes, or competitions, by some groomers and for crossing the border into the U.S. If you are planning any of these activities check with the organization involved for their requirements and check your pets vaccination status allowing enough time to have any required vaccines brought up to date with a safe protocol.