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| August is National Immunization Month Veterinarians and other animal health professionals work very hard to educate you, the owner. Some people are simply unaware of many aspects of animal care. We want to be sure you know what vaccinations are available and which vaccinations are recommended for your individual situation. These recommendations vary greatly between states, counties, and veterinarians. Provided below are brief synopses of common diseases we can prevent by immunizing our patients. Every patient is individual and there are many factors to consider when establishing a pet's vaccination plan. We will be happy to discuss an immunization protocol for your pet. If you have any concerns or questions, please call us (972-722-0066) or email us at Dr_Darren@AHFate.com |
COMMON CANINE IMMUNIZATIONS Parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious and very serious disease. It was diagnosed for the first time in dogs in 1978. Puppies and young dogs become infected through contaminated feces and environments. CPV is very stable in the environment and is resistant to the effects of heat, detergents, alcohol, and many disinfectants. Dogs who have been exposed will usually develop symptoms in 7-10 days. Symptoms may vary from a little ill to fatal vomiting and diarrhea. CPV can be diagnosed easily from a stool sample. There is no cure for parvovirus and the virus itself cannot be killed; however, parvovirus infection can be treated with supportive care and prevention of septicemia. Canine Distemper Virus is highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. It also infects wild canids such as foxes, wolves, and coyotes. It is spread through airborne exposure and direct contact with secretions. The first sign is usually eye discharge and may develop into fever, nasal discharge, coughing, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures. There is no cure for canine distemper virus, but the disease process can be treated by preventing secondary infections and controlling symptoms such as dehydration, vomiting, and hypothermia. Canine Parainfluenza and Adenovirus 2 are both highly contagious viral infections causing damage to the respiratory tract. Prevention is very simple with routine vaccinations. Infection can result in severe coughing, sloughing the cells in the upper respiratory tract, and even fatal pneumonia. Leptospirosis is a bacteria that is very common in this area. It can cause kidney failure, inflammation/toxicity of the liver (hepatitis), inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) causing hemorrhage, inflammation of muscle tissue (myositis and myalgia), inflammation in the eye (uveitis) causing blindness, inflammation in the nervous system (meningitis), abortion in food animals and immune mediated illness with chronic disease. As you can see, the symptoms for this infection can be very different and this makes diagnosis more difficult. Leptospirosis is contagious to humans also. Vaccination is the easiest form of prevention. The bacteria is carried in the urine of rodents and thus almost impossible to eliminate from the environment. Bordetella bronchiseptica is a vaccine available to help prevent contagious tracheobronchitis (commonly known as kennel cough). The most common sign of kennel cough is a harsh, dry cough that is often followed by gagging and coughing up foamy mucus. Otherwise, the patient appears alert and generally healthy. The disease is contagious among dogs, but it does not affect people. We highly recommend vaccinating dogs who are boarded, groomed, or go to puppy classes and /or dog parks. We can prevent this disease most of the time with an intranasal vaccination every 6 months. |
| We offer an on-line pharmacy for all your needs. If you have trouble getting to the hospital during our regular hours, you can buy your prescription on-line and have it shipped to your home! |
Animal Hospital of Fate 1001 North W.E.Crawford (Highway 66 in Fate) Rockwall, Texas 75087 972-722-0066 |
| Immunizations trigger protective immune responses in pets and Immunizationsagents. It is very important to vaccinate and trigger protective immune responses in pets and Vaccinations are Vaccinations are extremely effective in preventing future disease. extremely effective in preventing future disease. Occasionally, a vaccinated pet may not develop adequate immunity and, although rare, it is possible for these pets to become ill. This is the reason are required. The very young are more susceptible trigger protective immune responses in pets and to disease because their immune systems are not fully mature. to disease because their immune systems are not fully mature. While nursing, the babies While nursing, the babies receive antibodies (special proteins) that provide some immunity to disease; however, this immunity doesn't last long and there may be gaps in coverage. Vaccinating your pet early is very important Antibody titers are blood tests that measure the amount of generates antibodies that help to destroy the organism and prevent or minimize illness if the body is exposed to the same organism again. Antibody titers do not replace vaccination programs, but can be used to help us determine if your pet has a reasonable expectation of protection against disease. However, interpreting antibody titers can be difficult and do not always equate to coverage for a particular disease. |
Feline Panleukopenia is caused by the feline parvovirus. This virus can remain contagious in cages, litter boxes, and bowls for months to years. Cats are infected with this virus after ingesting The only way to protect against a virus is to vaccinate. Recently, studies have shown that canine parvovirus can also be contagious to cats, but can be protected against with the current feline vaccines. The vaccines available for protection against feline panleukopenia are excellent and offer almost total immunity to the virus. Clinical signs include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and even death. Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is the cause of over 50% of upper respiratory infections in cats. This disease is highly contagious and can be fatal for the young kittens by causing pneumonia. There is no cure for herpes infections (which are what cause rhinotracheitis), but at least we can prevent this one. Please have your kitten vaccinated early. Feline Calicivirus is also a very important cause of upper respiratory infection in cats worldwide. Common symptoms are fever, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, sneezing, and ulceration of the mouth (stomatitis). Pneumonia may develop with secondary bacterial infections. Some cats may also develop a polyarthritis. Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is one of the most common and destructive of all cat viruses. It is highly contagious from cat to cat. This disease cannot be transmitted to people or to other animals, other than cats. This disease is similar to the human AIDS virus in that it suppresses the immune system, decreasing the resistance of the cat to other diseases. Feline leukemia virus is one of the MAJOR causes of death in cats today. If your cat has an exposure, then we recommend vaccinating to prevent infection. There is no treatment for FeLV. |
| In honor of National Immunization Month, we will be offering 10% off all vaccinations in the month of August! Call today to schedule your appointment! 972-722-0066 |
| 1001 North W.E.Crawford (Highway 66 in Fate) Rockwall, Texas 75087 972-722-0066 |
