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Keep Your Pet Protected with Vaccinations
Vaccines are an essential part of preventative medicine. We as a staff here at Bristol County Veterinary Hospital take into account the risk of vaccination against the risk of getting diseases and will work with each owner, each pet, and their exposure risk to come up with the best vaccination schedule for each individual furry family member. Vaccines we offer at Bristol County Veterinary Hospital and what they are protecting your animal for, are listed below.
Canine Vaccines
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals. Rabies is transmitted through saliva and blood (bites most commonly) and can be transmitted humans. Massachusetts and Rhode Island law requires protection against the rabies virus through the rabies vaccine. The state laws determine the guidelines and frequency. The initial vaccine is given at 16 weeks of age and is good for 1 year. The vaccine is then boostered within 9-12 months in order to qualify for a 3-year vaccine. Massachusetts and Rhode Island rabies vaccine protocols are slightly different after the dog has qualified for their first 3-year vaccine and are listed below:
Massachusetts: “Once a 3-year, always a 3-year” – As long as your dog’s booster is given within 9-12 months from the initial 1-year vaccine, your dog’s subsequent rabies vaccines will always qualify for a 3-year Massachusetts vaccine and certificate.
Rhode Island: In order to qualify for a 3-year Rhode Island vaccine and certificate, your dog’s rabies vaccine must always be boostered prior to the previous rabies vaccine’s expiration date.
DHPP
D – Distemper; a contagious, viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Puppies ages 3-6 months are extremely susceptible to infection and once infected, this virus contributes to a high mortality rate. Most puppies infected with distemper will die.
H – Infectious Canine Hepatitis, also known as adenovirus type 1 (Hence the A in DA2PP), is a virus that is transmitted via the urine, feces, or saliva of infected animals. It can affect the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs. It causes fever, depression, low white blood cell counts and prolonged bleeding times.
P – Parvovirus; a highly contagious virus that has a high mortality rate when left untreated. Signs include lethargy, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, which causes dehydration. The survival rate of puppies infected with parvo is about 50/50.
P – Parainfluenza; a contagious respiratory infection that is seen in areas with high dog populations, such as boarding kennels, dog parks, and pet stores. It is highly contagious to any dog of any age. Signs of Parainfluenza include coughing, fever, eye, and nasal discharge.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a rickettsial bacterial disease that is carried by wild animals and is shed through urine. It is not endemic in all parts of the United States but is endemic in this area. Because of the way it is spread, any animal that touches grass outside in any area where wildlife might have been is at risk of contracting it. Leptospirosis can be fatal by causing acute liver and kidney disease. If not treated immediately, it is 100% fatal. Perhaps what is most worrisome about Leptospirosis is the danger to human health. This is a disease people can get from their pets. It can be transmitted to the human owner by contact with the animal’s urine through cuts in their skin or through mucous membranes. Humans too will come down with liver and kidney failure and it can be fatal to them as well. Because Leptospirosis is common in this area, we highly recommend this vaccine on a yearly basis.
Lyme
Bordetella "Kennel Cough"
4DX
The 4DX test is a simple, in-house blood test that provides us with a lot of valuable information about your dog. It is designed as a screening test, which means it can help detect infection related to one of several diseases in seemingly healthy dogs. Just a few drops of blood and eight minutes can help us to determine if your pet has been exposed to:
- Dirofilaria immitis (heartworms)
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum/platys (anaplasmosis)
- Ehrlichia canis/ewingii (Ehrlichosis)
Canine Influenza "Dog Flu"
Feline Vaccines
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals. Rabies is transmitted through saliva and blood (bites most commonly) and can be transmitted to humans. While most people think of dogs of being at higher risk of getting Rabies, it is important to note that there are four times more cats being diagnosed with Rabies on an annual basis than dogs. To see how many cases have been reported yearly, go here: https://www.rabiesaware.org/.
Both Massachusetts and Rhode Island law requires protection against the rabies virus through the rabies vaccine. The state laws determine the guidelines and frequency. The initial vaccine is given 16 weeks of age and is good for 1 year.
For cats, we have both the 3-year rabies vaccine should you want your cat to qualify for 3-year coverage AND the 1-year Purevax Vaccine for rabies.
The Purevax Vaccine for Rabies for cats is a vaccine without any adjuvants. This means that your cat is less likely to get any vaccine-associated sarcomas (a vaccine cancer cats are pre-disposed to) from this vaccine. While the incidents of vaccine-associated sarcomas are very rare with the 3-year vaccine, some people may prefer this added protection for their pets.
The 3-year vaccine is the same used for dogs. State requirements can be seen above.
FVRCP
FVR– protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis; a respiratory infection that is caused by the herpes 1 virus, known as Feline Herpes Virus. This infection is very contagious from cat to cat via the air or contaminated objects. It is not usually fatal, but will either smolder as a chronic disease or lay dormant in the nerves of the upper respiratory passages with intermittent flare-ups.
C– calicivirus; causes a highly contagious upper respiratory infection similar to FVR. This infection commonly causes oral ulcers and cats infected may remain as carries who shed the virus, infecting other cats.
P – panleukopenia virus (feline distemper); a severe, extremely contagious infection (similar to Parvovirus in dogs) that can be fatal. It causes fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration