Like we talked about last week this question is really only able to be answered by your veterinarian who has done an exam on your pet.
So what are we talking about today if we can’t tell you what your specific pet needs? We are going to walk you through the vaccines and how your veterinarian may decide which vaccines are necessary.
Starting with what the vaccines cover we can narrow them down into a few categories: diseases that affect the liver and kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, respiratory system, and tick borne diseases. Some of these diseases are also zoonotic which means they can infect people and other mammals.
Liver and Kidney:
Leptospirosis- this is a bacterial infection that can be contracted from any water that wildlife or livestock have been around. It is spread through the urine of those animals and it doesn’t necessarily have to be from them urinating into the water directly. This is also a zoonotic disease, which is why it is very important your pets are vaccinated.
Hepatitis- this is a virus that is spread through bodily secretions such as urine and feces.
Gastrointestinal:
Parvovirus- this is a virus that is spread through fecal contamination, which means anywhere that other dogs have been, dog parks, pet stores, even yards, are sources of infection. This virus is very difficult to kill and can remain in the environment for years if the conditions are right.
Coronavirus- again, this is spread through the feces of infected dogs. The same areas where parvo can be are also places that can have corona- anywhere dogs have been.
Nervous system:
Rabies- this is a virus that is always fatal and is spread through the saliva of effected animals. It is also a zoonotic disease and the vaccination is required by law in Oklahoma. Rabies is another reason not to handle any injured or seemingly injured wildlife as it may have come in contact with an infected animal. Proper authorities should be called. If you have any stray animals it is also important you handle them very carefully- i.e. with gloves, and quarantine them for at least 7 days. For more information on rabies here in Oklahoma visit https://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Acute_Disease_Service/Disease_Information/Rabies_Frequently_Asked_Questions_.html
Distemper- another virus that is spread through bodily secretions, but this time it is mostly through respiratory secretions, though it can also be spread by sharing food and water bowls.
Respiratory:
Kennel cough- this is spread through respiratory secretions and is very contagious. It is most often seen in places that see a high volume of dogs or where your dog will be around a lot of other dogs: boarding facilities, daycare facilities, dog parks, and shelters.
Canine influenza- there are a few different strains of this disease, each with its own prevalence. It is also spread through respiratory secretions.
Canine influenza incidence in 2018
Yellow: H3N8 strain
Orange: H3N2 strain
Dark orange: Both strains
Tick borne:
Lyme- this is not common in Oklahoma yet, but it is especially prevalent in the north and northeastern states. This bacterial infection spread through the saliva in a tick bite. This disease is also zoonotic, but it cannot be spread directly from your pet to yourself, only through a tick bite. This disease damages the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and the heart, which is why it is in a category all its own.
As you can see, many of these diseases are viral, which means that there is no “cure.” This means that treatments are symptomatic and supportive to help your pet through the disease course.
Your veterinarian will be able to go over all these diseases with you and help you to figure out how much exposure to these diseases your pet will have based on their, and your, lifestyle. Some pets rarely leave the house, while others are out and about at doggie daycare or social activities daily, so their exposure to other dogs and diseases are vastly different. Outdoor adventures, dog social activities, boarding, grooming, how much time your pet spends outside and if your pet is likely to get into things are all important factors you should bring up with your pet’s veterinarian. One other thing not many people think about is travel, especially out of the state. As you can see from maps above, the exposer levels for different diseases are not the same in each state, and very different if you're traveling to other countries.
Your pets’ physical health is also an important factor. Vaccines do require the immune system to be strong enough to mount a response, which means immunocompromised pets and healthy pets will handle vaccines differently. Your veterinarian will keep all this and their likelihood of exposure in mind as they decide what vaccine schedule will keep your pet at their healthiest.
All of the vaccinations are to protect against potentially deadly disease, so if there is any chance they could be exposed, it is important to have them vaccinated.
*If you are ever curious and are looking for disease incidences you can look them up on this website: http://www.healthmap.org/en/