Vaccinating your cat or dog is essential to protect them from infections typical of their species, which they can catch and transmit in different ways: to your other animals, to those of others, but also to you, to your family members and to your visitors. Yes, some animal diseases such as rabies can infect humans. They are called zoonoses.
Generally, a puppy or kitten should receive their first vaccinations at 2 months of age. They are then repeated 1 to 3 times according to the specific needs of the animal, the breed and the age. The optimal time interval between two sets of vaccines is 3 to 4 weeks.
In order to maintain optimal health, your veterinarian will suggest a vaccination program adapted to your pet’s age and lifestyle.
Most veterinarians agree that all dogs and cats should be vaccinated against widespread, serious or highly contagious diseases (basic vaccines). Other vaccines may be recommended depending on the risks of certain animals.
Vaccinating is an important gesture, but it is normal to have questions. Ask your veterinarian for advice to help you make a decision for you and your pet.
Here are the different diseases and infections against which your veterinarian can vaccinate your cat:
Here are the different diseases and infections against which your veterinarian can vaccinate your dog:
Here are the different diseases and infections against which your veterinarian can vaccinate your pet.
(Click on the images to see the available vaccines)
Dogs are naturally attracted to other animals: dogs, cats or even skunks, raccoons, marmots, etc. They risk exposing themselves to various diseases! Fortunately for your dog, there are different vaccines to prevent many of the diseases that your dog may be exposed to. In the puppy, the core vaccine provides protection against three viral digestive diseases (distemper, adenovirus type 2 (hepatitis), and parvovirus). At your followup appointment, your veterinarian will strongly recommend the addition of the leptospirosis vaccine. It is a bacteria that can be transmitted to humans to which your dog could be exposed through water contaminated with the urine of an infected animal.
Prevention remains the best and most economical way to prevent diseases. Without proper and updated vaccinations, your dog exposes himself and your entire family to various serious and potentially life-threatening diseases for him and for you. Here is information on diseases that can be prevented with vaccination.
Canine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. Distemper is often fatal, and dogs that survive usually have permanent, irreparable nervous system damage.
Symptoms
Initially, infected dogs will develop watery to pus-like discharge from their eyes. They then develop:
As the virus attacks the nervous system, infected dogs develop circling behavior, head tilt, muscle twitches, convulsions with jaw chewing movements and salivation (“chewing gum fits”), seizures, and partial or complete paralysis. The virus may also cause the footpads to thicken and harden, leading to its nickname “hard pad disease.”
How is canine distemper spread
The disease is spread through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) from an infected dog or wild animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months, and mother dogs can pass the virus through the placenta to their puppies. Because canine distemper also impacts wildlife populations, contact between wild animals and domestic dogs can facilitate the spread of the virus.
Treatment
After confirmation of the disease, your veterinarian will be able to offer supportive treatments to your dog to prevent dehydration, persistent diarrhea and deterioration of his condition.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) is a very serious condition caused by a highly infectious virus that affects the liver. Infectious canine hepatitis affects and develops rapidly in unvaccinated dogs, particularly those of less than one year of age. There are no breed or sex predispositions.
Symptoms
A puppy or dog with infectious canine hepatitis will show a variety of different symptoms. You should always look for:
A puppy or dog with a more severe case of infectious canine hepatitis may also have the following symptoms:
Transmission
Infectious canine hepatitis is transmitted through the blood, nasal discharge, saliva, urine, or feces of infected dogs.
Treatment
Depending on the symptoms present, your veterinarian will determine the appropriate treatment.
Parvovirus is a highly contagious and highly virulent virus that attacks puppies and unvaccinated dogs. In addition to being very powerful, the virus is very resistant in the environment where it can be present until 6 months after the contamination.
Symptoms
The first symptoms occur about 5 days after exposure to the virus. Parvovirus is very damaging to the intestinal mucosa and there may be sepsis (absorption of bacteria into the bloodstream).
Transmission
The main source of infection is through contact with contaminated stool. Parvovirus can be transmitted through clothing, shoes or hair. This virus can quickly cause death.
Treatment
There is no cure for this virus. On the other hand, your veterinarian will offer intravenous support treatments such as fluid therapy, antibiotics and sometimes an antiemetic.
Leptospirosis is a bacterium that is released from rodents’ urine, such as a rat, squirrel or raccoon, and is often found in moist soil or stagnant water. This bacterium can live for a long time in the environment when conditions are favorable, which increases the risk of infection in dogs. This disease can affect the kidneys and liver. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be spread from animals to people. Infection in people can cause flu-like symptoms and can cause liver or kidney disease
Symptoms
Transmission
Leptospirosis is often transmitted by direct contact with urine or other body fluids of an infected host, although environmental contamination by urine can lead to transmission if conditions are suitable
Treatment
Leptospirosis is generally treated with antibiotics and supportive care (hospitalization). When treated early and aggressively, the chances for recovery are good but there is still a risk of permanent residual kidney or liver damage.
Bordetella, also called, kennel cough is a disease that attacks the respiratory system of dogs. It is an infectious bronchitis of dogs characterized by a harsh, hacking cough that most people describe as sounding like “something stuck in the dog’s throat.” At-risk dogs are often those found in boarding schools, training centers, agility clinics or dog parks.
Symptoms
Transmisson
The organisms causing this disease can be spread by direct contact (licking), by air (coughing or sneezing) or by contact with contaminated surfaces (clothing).
Treatment
The veterinarian will observe the symptoms and may prescribe either an antibiotic, an antitussive or an anti-inflammatory as a supportive treatment.
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks to dogs, as well as to other animals and people. the disease can be difficult to detect and can cause serious and recurring health problems. Therefore, it is best to prevent infection by taking appropriate measures to prevent tick bites and, for dogs, possibly vaccinating against the disease.
Symptoms
Pets infected with Lyme disease may not show any signs for 2-5 months. After that time, typical symptoms include:
Many dogs who develop Lyme disease have recurrent lameness due to inflammation of the joints. Sometimes the lameness lasts for only three to four days but recurs days to weeks later, either in the same leg or in other legs. This is known as “shifting-leg lameness.” One or more joints may be swollen, warm and painful. Some dogs may also develop kidney problems. Lyme disease sometimes leads to glomerulonephritis—inflammation and accompanying dysfunction of the kidney’s glomeruli (essentially, a blood filter). Eventually, kidney failure may set in as the dog begins to exhibit such signs as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased urination and thirst, and abnormal fluid buildups.
Transmission
Lyme disease is transmitted through tick bites. The tick must be attached to your dog for at least 48 hours. Therefore, the best means of avoiding Lyme disease is to remove ticks as soon as they are found. Daily inspections of your dog are recommended, especially if they have been in wooded areas.
In addition to “tick checks,” we also strongly recommend parasiticides. There are several prescription tick products available (collars, topical and oral), so please discuss the appropriate choice with your veterinarian.
Treatment
Your veterinarian may run a combination of blood tests specific to diagnosing Lyme disease. If the diagnosis is positive, your dog will be treated with an antibiotic. The recommended treatment length is usually at least four weeks, and longer courses may be necessary in some cases. Your veterinarian may also prescribe an anti-inflammatory if your dog is especially uncomfortable.
Rabies is an infectious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system and the brain. Since it can be transmitted from animals to humans, it also falls into the category of zoonoses. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Less commonly, rabies can be transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut on the skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal. Once the outward signs of the disease appear, rabies is nearly always fatal.
Symptoms
In dogs, rabies progresses rapidly. The incubation period in dogs varies between 2 to 12 weeks. It is usually difficult to diagnose in the early stages of infection. The clinical signs are:
An increased frequency of vocalization can also be observed. It should be noted that the rabies virus can be transmitted by saliva up to 7 days before the appearance of the first clinical sign.
Transmission
Transmission is almost always by the bite of an infected animal, when the saliva containing the rabies virus is introduced into the body. The virus can be in the body for weeks before signs develop. Most cases in dogs develop within 21 to 80 days after exposure, but the incubation period may be considerably shorter or longer. The most common wild animals that carry rabies are skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. These animals can be found everywhere, so it is important to vaccinate your dog.
Although these vaccines are not considered Core, they are very important for most dogs who may be exposed to these infectious diseases. At your dog’s next appointment, we will be happy to review which of the above make the most sense for your dog and make the appropriate recommendations.
Cats are very adventurous animals that are easily exposed to various diseases. Many of these are still incurable and some other diseases can be fatal only to kittens or animals with a weakened immune system while other diseases can seriously affect the health of your pet regardless of age. Whether he is an indoor and/or outdoor cat, the vaccination will help to protect him against several serious and/or life-threatening diseases.
It is very important to vaccinate your cat, especially if it is a kitten, to ensure good immunity. For the kitten, the core vaccine provides protection against three viral diseases (panleucopenia, calicivirus, and infectious rhinotracheitis).
Prevention remains the most effective and economical way to prevent feline diseases. In addition, without an adequate, up-to-date vaccination, your cat unnecessarily exposes your family members to certain diseases that they carry. Here is information on diseases that can be prevented with vaccination.
Feline Panleukopenia is a highly contagious, severe infection that causes gastrointestinal, immune system, and nervous system disease.
Symptoms
Panleukopenia is a very serious disease and when your kitten demonstrates the clinical signs associated with it, it is very important to make an appointment with a veterinarian to start a treatment plan as soon as possible. Here are the symptoms that can be observed:
Physical examination typically reveals profound depression, dehydration, and sometimes abdominal pain. Abdominal palpation—which can induce immediate vomiting—may reveal thickened intestinal loops and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes.
Transmission
The virus is spread in the environment by body excretions (like saliva and stools) during a period that can go up to 6 weeks after the infection, and it is very resistant to most disinfectants. In fact, it can survive more than a year in the environment. Complete and meticulous disinfection of your cat’s environment is necessary to prevent any risk of contamination.
Treatment
After confirmation of the disease, the veterinarian will be able to offer supportive treatments to your cat to prevent dehydration, vomiting, persistent diarrhea and deterioration.
Rhinotracheitis is a very common and highly contagious respiratory disease that can affect mainly kittens but also unvaccinated adult cats. The core vaccine (PRC) will protect your cat against this virus.
Symptoms
The clinical signs of this disease that can be observed are about the same as in a cold in humans, that is to say:
Transmission
A cat becomes infected with this virus by direct contact with virus particles. The virus is spread in saliva and in discharges from the eyes and nose of an infected cat. Therefore, an infection occurs when a susceptible cat comes into direct contact with an infected cat, or comes into contact with inanimate objects (e.g., clothing, food and water dishes, furniture) that have been contaminated with viral particles.
Treatment
This disease is treated very well. After the diagnosis is confirmed by the veterinary examination, it will be possible to treat accordingly in order to help your cat get back into shape as quickly as possible.
Feline calicivirus infection is a common respiratory disease in cats. The virus attacks the respiratory tract (nasal passages and lungs), the mouth (with ulceration of the tongue), the intestines and the musculoskeletal system. It is highly communicable in unvaccinated cats, and is commonly seen in multi-cat facilities, shelters, poorly ventilated households and breeding catteries. Vaccination against the calicivirus is strongly advised. This infection can occur in cats of any age, but young kittens older than six weeks have been found to be most susceptible
Symptoms
The symptoms that can be observed in a cat infected with this virus typically present themselves suddenly:
Transmission
Again, this disease is very contagious, it is easily transmitted from one cat to another by direct contact (nose-to-nose) or indirect (objects). On the other hand, unlike rhinotracheitis, calicivirus is quite resistant in the environment; it is therefore necessary to do a good disinfection of the environment of your pet. In addition, up to 80% of cats who have recovered from the infection will remain carriers of the virus for several months if not several years and will, for some, continue to be contagious for their congeners. That is why it is even more important to vaccinate all cats in the household.
Treatment
The calicivirus is easily treatable. During the examination, your veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate treatment to relieve your cat of his respiratory symptoms and heal his ulcers as quickly as possible.
The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a slowly progressive virus that usually persists in cats’ bodies and interferes with normal immunity, with identified stages of infection. FeLV infection results in an increased risk of infections and cancers
Symptoms
It is possible that your cat is infected with this virus without showing any symptoms. It may take several months or even years before you see the clinical signs. Unfortunately, the symptoms are too variable to list, but it is important to know that there is a blood test for the disease. So if your cat is sick and is at risk for leukemia, your vet will recommend that you do the testing.
Transmission
Transfer of the virus can occur from mother to babies, between cats housed together, or in stray cats. Sharing food and water bowls, mutual grooming, fighting, and shared litter boxes can all provide opportunity for virus transfer. Leukemia is a viral disease that is excreted by all the secretions of the body of the infected cat but mainly by its saliva. The virus is very fragile and can not survive in the environment beyond a few hours. It is also very sensitive to all detergents.
Treatment
Feline leukemia is unfortunately a deadly disease. There is still no effective treatment for this disease, only supportive treatments to prolong life expectancy. Therefore, it is important to vaccinate your cat if he is free to walk outside and have it tested for leukemia if he was born there.
Rabies is an acute viral infection of the nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including cats, dogs and humans.
Symptoms
In cats, rabies progresses in a furious form. The incubation period in cats varies between 2 and 12 weeks. It is usually difficult to diagnose in the early stages of infection. The main signs are:
It should be noted that the rabies virus can be transmitted by saliva up to 7 days before the appearance of the first clinical signs.
Transmission
Rabies is spread through the saliva of an infected animal either by biting, scratch or wound contamination, or mucous membranes. The virus can be in the body for weeks or months before signs develop. Skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes are the most common animals. These animals can be found everywhere, so it is important to vaccinate your cat. It is important to know that rabies is a zoonosis, that is, it can be transmitted to humans.
Treatment
There is no treatment or cure for rabies once symptoms appear. The disease results in fatality.