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Yelp  A few words about Yelp…Yelp is a strange outfit. They have received so many positive reviews on us and yet they only display the negative ones, we don’t get it.

To see ALL of the reviews on Yelp, click here and enter the access words when prompted.

Rest assured, we’ve been treating Pearland area pets since 1997 and we have thousands of satisfied clients. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to stay open!

Most people LOVE LOVE LOVE us because in addition to our medical knowledge and skill, we really do care about you and your pets (and it shows)…BUT, if you are ever unhappy with our service, know that we will work very hard to address all of your concerns to your satisfaction.

William J. Wickel
Practice Manager

Dr. Julie J. Wickel
Practice Owner

DESICCANT GEL PACKS

• They are found in shoe boxes, electronics, medication bottles, and some foods.
• Ingestion produces mild vomiting and diarrhea.

CHRISTMAS TREE PRESERVATIVE

• The sugar in the mixture entices pets to drink the liquid.
• The signs are more severe when the liquid is contaminated with bacteria or fungi.

CHRISTMAS TREES

• Ingestion of the needles may cause vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and depression.

POINSETTIA

• Eating large amounts of the plant will cause mild vomiting.
• Treatment is usually not required but you should keep an eye on symptoms just in case your pet is more sensitive than others.

HOLLY

• All parts of the plant are toxic.
• Eating the plant causes vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

MISTLETOE

• Ingestion of just a few leaves or berries produces a mild upset stomach.
• Eating a large amount causes more severe vomiting, diarrhea and heart issues.

LILY—Easter lilies, Tiger lilies, Day lilies, Asian lilies, Japanese Snow and others

• Chewing on a single leaf can lead to kidney failure.
• Consider all exposures as potentially life-threatening.

ETHANOL

• Small dogs and cats are more sensitive to ethanol than humans.
• They are attracted to mixed drinks containing milk, cream, or ice cream.
• Ethanol is rapidly absorbed and can cause signs within 30-60 minutes after ingestion.
• Clinical signs include vomiting, ataxia (loss of coordination of the muscles, especially at the extremities,) and disorientation.
• Large amounts lead to coma, seizures, and even death.

CHOCOLATE

• Toxicity causes hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and potential death.
• The amount of toxin present in chocolate depends on the type:

1. The more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic.
2. Unsweetened baking chocolate contains 6 times more toxin than milk chocolate.
3. White chocolate contains negligible amounts.

RIBBON, TINSEL, AND STRING

• Puppies and kittens are attracted to these items.
• When swallowed, the body tries to move the string or ribbon through the intestine.  The intestine tends to “bunch up” along the linear object.  The constant movement of the intestine produces a “sawing” action.  This eventually leads to perforation of the bowel.
• This is a life-threatening condition requiring surgery.

ELECTRICAL CORDS

• Puppies and kittens are tempted to play with and chew on electrical cords.
• When a pet bites through an electrical cord, severe burns to the tongue and mouth may occur.
• Damage to the area around the heart can also occur causing the pet’s lung to fill with fluid.  This leads to difficulty in breathing.
• These are emergency situations requiring immediate veterinary attention.

MISCELLANEOUS

Some other potentially toxic or dangerous items to keep away from your pets include:
Onions, Ornaments, Macadamia nuts, Batteries, Potpourris, Rising bread dough, Medications, Tobacco, Grapes and raisins, Anti-freeze, Bones, Xylitol (found in sugar free gum), Candles, Rodent poisons, Ice melting products, Stress of having visitors

*HCPHES – Public Health & Environmental Services for Harris County.  Volume 3, Issue 4; December 2011
www.hcphes.org

Comprehensive Physical Exams

Pets need frequent wellness checkups because they age 5 to 7 times faster than humans. Wellness screening helps detect pet health problems in early stages. Many of the same tests used in human medicine are part of a comprehensive physical exam or health screening in different stages of your pet’s life. Clinical signs of disease do not develop until late in the disease process but can often be detected much earlier through wellness screening.

Young Adult Pet Wellness Screening

Recording normal blood, urine, ECG and X-ray baselines for your pet will help detect future problems in the early stages when treatment is usually more effective.

Mature Adult Pet Wellness Screening

Comparing current and previous baselines helps detect the onset of internal organ disease. In addition to early detection and treatment, nutrition appropriate for the mature pet’s condition gives your pet the highest quality of life for the longest time possible.

Senior Pet Wellness Screening

Early detection of the diseases of aging: diabetes, arthirits, kidney, liver, heart, thyroid and dental diseases, etc. often makes treatment less expensive. New pain management medications also help pets with chronic pain live a more comfortable life. Regular Exams may save a Life

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Differences in red and white blood cell and platelet counts compared to normal counts aids diagnosis of specific diseases, anemia, nutritional status, inflammation and clotting defects.

Blood Profile (Serum Chemistries)

Blood Profiles are a series of tests that aid in evaluating function of kidneys, liver, pancreas, thyroid and other organs to detect early stages of disease.

These Serum Chemistries Include:

• BUN, CREAT, PHOS—Kidney enzymes
• ALT, ALKP, Bili—Liver enzymes
• Amyl, Lipase—Pancreas
• TP, Globulin—Immune system
• Gluc—Diabetes
• T4—Hyperthyroidism (common in cats)
• Hypothyroidism (common in dogs)
• Chol, Ca+, Electrolytes are also checked.
• Urinalysis

This helps diagnose urinary system disease, metabolic and other disorders. Kidney disease is first evident here. Dietary change is often all that is needed to stop or slow down the problem.

Fecal Exam

This is a microscopic exam that detects specific internal parasites. Pets can easily have parasites a non-prescription product does not act on. Certain parasites can infect you and your family.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

This graphs electrical activity (rhythm) of the heart. Abnormalities may indicate a serious problem.

X-rays

These help detect abnormalities of the skeletal system, heart and other internal organs. X-rays are an essential component of the work-up of patients with heart disease.

Ultrasound

This is a non-invasive method of looking at the structures of internal organs to detect abnormalities.

Sarcomas are not new, nor are they extremely rare. But in 1991, veterinarians began to notice a higher than expected number of sarcomas occurring on the body in places where vaccines are commonly injected. Since most sarcomas are not linked with vaccines in any way–and those that are associated occur only infrequently—it is very difficult to establish a clear relationship. Veterinary scientists are clarifying the picture, but much more needs to be learned. It is currently estimated that 2 in 10,000 cats may acquire sarcomas associated with vaccines.

So what’s being done?

Veterinarians are deeply concerned. Even though vaccine-associated sarcomas are uncommon, the problem is receiving unprecedented attention by veterinarians and feline vaccine producers. The Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force is a coalition of concerned national veterinary organizations dedicated to resolving the dilemma. This group is devoting considerable human and financial resources to determine the true scope of the problem, the exact cause, and the most effective treatment of vaccine-associated sarcomas.

If vaccines are causing problems, why use them at all?

Disturbing as this issue may be, there is great concern that cat owners, attempting to keep their cats from harm, may forego vaccination entirely. The result? Though well intentioned, these owners may be placing cats at far greater risk of acquiring a fatal infection than any risk the vaccine poses. And in the case of rabies, human health is at risk as well.

What should I look for?

It is quite common for a small, firm, painless swelling to form under the skin at the site where a vaccine was injected. The swelling is almost always of no consequence, and it usually disappears after several weeks. Rarely, however, the swelling may progress to a sarcoma, so it’s important that you contact your veterinarian if you notice a swelling at the vaccine site. In fact, it’s wise to contact your veterinarian if you suspect and adverse reaction of any kind after vaccination.

How should I respond?

Until this problem is solved, the best response is to discuss the issue with your veterinarian. In the vast majority of situations, vaccines are much more beneficial than harmful. They continue to do and excellent job of protecting cats from serious infection and disease. But one way to reduce the chance of tumor development is to not vaccinate unnecessarily. Veterinarians are being urged to evaluate each individual cat’s risk of infection to guide in deciding which vaccines should be given as possible. Our Doctors feel that it is essential that your cat receive the FVRCP (upper-respiratory- Distemper combination) and Rabies each year. The Feline Leukemia vaccine is strongly recommended for outdoor cats.

While these are very simple questions, unfortunately the answers are very complex. Before we try to answer this question, let’s address some of the factors involved: individual protection, herd health immunity, how vaccines stimulate the immune system, individual immune systems, and potential vaccine reactions.

Individual immunity is the concept of individual protection based upon vaccines given. While no vaccine can be considered 100% effective, today’s vaccines are rigorously tested to demonstrate better than 98% protection. It is believed that with repeated booster vaccines, an individual is protected from those diseases (please see individual immune system below).

Herd health immunity is a concept based upon the premise that the number of individuals in a population who are vaccinated against a particular disease is inversely proportional to the severity of a potential epidemic.

Example 1

People are no longer being vaccinated against Small Pox. Therefore, there are very small numbers of protected individuals from this disease. If this disease is reintroduced into the United States population (by a terrorist), we will have a major epidemic on our hands.

Example 2

The majority of our pets are routinely vaccinated for Rabies. Texas is always at risk of exposure to this disease because we border Mexico. Reported cases of Rabies are few in number because the majority of the population at risk are protected. Although some individuals may be at risk, there is very little possibility of an epidemic.

How Vaccinations Stimulate the Immune System

Each puppy and kitten receives maternal antibodies from the mother, both through the placenta and also in the colostrum (the first milk). This is termed “Passive Protection” and the strength of these antibodies is dependent upon the strength of the mother’s immune system. The mother obtains these antibodies from prior vaccination or by natural exposure to disease. Maternal antibodies are a two-edged sword; they may protect the puppy against disease early in life, but they also interfere/block the young animal’s response to vaccinations or active immunization. These maternal antibodies can interfere with vaccination for as long as 14 to 16 weeks in some puppies and kittens. A refractory period can exist in some puppies or kittens where very low, almost undetectable levels of maternal antibody will inhibit the vaccination process, but will NOT PROTECT the puppy/kitten from infection (from exposure to the natural virus). To determine the exact time at which this refractory period occurs is VERY EXPENSIVE. Therefore, a SERIES of vaccinations is the most inexpensive and best way to protect puppies and kittens against disease, insuring vaccination at the best time. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BEGIN VACCINATIONS AT AN EARLY AGE AND REPEAT EVERY 3-4 WEEKS UNTIL THE PUPPY OR KITTEN IS AT LEAST 16-18 WEEKS OLD.

Puppies and kittens in general do not have a very strong immune system. It can sometimes take up to 6 months or even a full year before their immune system is considered fully functional. Because of the interference from the maternal antibodies, veterinarians do not begin the vaccination series until the pet is six to eight weeks of age. The vaccines are then boostered at three to four week intervals until the pet is sixteen to eighteen weeks of age.

Because of the different strengths of response each puppy and kitten will have to vaccination, they can still be highly susceptible to infection until 2-4 weeks after the last injection of the immunization series.

Vaccines do NOT cause a disease, but act as a stimulus to your pet’s immune system, causing it to produce ANTIBODIES capable of protecting your pet against those specific diseases. Antibodies fight disease by killing disease-causing organisms within the body.

The timing between vaccinations is extremely important. Antibody levels produced by the initial vaccination diminish with time. When your pet is re-vaccinated, its immune system is stimulated to “remember” the specific disease organism and manufacture more of the appropriate antibodies. Memory cells affect the strength and speed of the immune system’s response to infection. The amount of memory is dependent upon the timing of the vaccinations. After the first vaccination, an immune response occurs. The strength and length of this response is similar to a “bell curve” with the strongest response (peak) occurring within a month of the vaccination. After a month, the numbers of ‘memory cells’ diminish. When the second vaccination is given within a month of the first one, a much stronger response (and therefore memory) is stimulated. However, if the time until the second booster vaccination is longer than a month, then the amount of immune response is much the same as the first vaccination.

By the time the third or fourth booster is given (at the appropriate time intervals), the puppy or kitten will have a much strengthened immune response (antibodies) to that specific disease. Because of these developed antibodies (with the full series of booster vaccinations), the pet will then only need booster vaccinations at various intervals (time is dependent upon type of vaccine) to keep the memory cells (antibodies) replenished.

The health of an individual’s immune system is dependent upon many variables. Like people, pets have varying abilities to respond to vaccines and fight off infections. Some scientific studies have demonstrated that some pets have a very strong immune response and may not need vaccinations on a yearly basis. This is very similar to how the human immune system works. However, other scientific studies have demonstrated that some pets never achieve complete protection (immunity) from certain diseases, even with repeated booster vaccinations.

Vaccines are NOT GUARANTEED to prevent disease because too many variables are involved. Very young puppies and kittens, as well as aging pets, appear to have diminished ability to respond to vaccinations. In such cases, it is critical that the pet be re-vaccinated at the appropriate interval. An animal that is underweight, pregnant, or stressed because of a serious infestation of parasites or other illness also may respond poorly to vaccination.

The following is a short list of variables that can have major impact upon an individual’s immune system:

• Age of the pet Very young puppies and kittens, as well as aging pets, appear to have diminished ability to respond to vaccinations. Their immune system is not fully functional. Pets between two and six years of age have the best immunity of their life and, if their immune system is not compromised by any stresses, probably have less need of vaccinations to keep their immune system healthy.
• Strength of individual immune system As stated above, each individual has variable strength in their immune system. We all know certain people who seem to never get sick, while there are other individuals who get sick quite frequently. The same is seen with our dogs and cats.
• Major surgeries Any pet undergoing major surgery, from ovariohysterectomies to fracture repairs (Hit By Car), suffers considerable stress to its immune system and that pet’s ability to fight off infections is lowered.
• Major illnesses A healthy immune system is one which is not challenged or lowered by stresses to the body. Illnesses such as diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, and kidney disease severely suppress the immune system. Even simple urinary tract infections can affect the health of a pet’s immune system.
• Parasites such as hookworms or heartworms will depress the immune system. Heartworm treatment has a major effect on the liver, kidneys, and lungs and can severely suppress immunity.
• Poor nutrition obviously affects every aspect of your pet’s health.
• Frequent boarding, grooming, and attendance at dog shows also cause repeated stress and lower the immune system’s abilities.

If an animal is exposed to disease shortly before or after vaccination, it may not have sufficient time to develop immunity from the vaccination before it becomes sick. This often occurs in pets adopted from shelters where they have been exposed to all sorts of diseases (many of these diseases are not the fault of the shelter as many of them are air-borne). Remember that it takes time for a disease to develop after exposure, and the vaccine may not have enough time to activate the pet’s immune system if the disease is already working in the pet’s body.

However, if an animal has been previously vaccinated for a disease that it is later exposed to; re-vaccination will result in faster immune response resulting in protection of the pet in less time than it takes for the virus to cause disease.

Potential Vaccine Reactions

There is less than five percent chance of a pet having an adverse reaction to a particular vaccine. This reaction is usually caused by the adjuvant which is in the vaccine to stimulate the immune system.

COMMON REACTIONS

Cats can have a severe, sometimes fatal, reaction to vaccinations. THIS TYPE OF REACTION HAPPENS LESS THAN TWO PERCENT OF THE TIME. They have an anaphylactic response—vomiting, diarrhea, salivating, and walking off-balance as if they were drunk. This response usually occurs within fifteen to thirty minutes, but we caution owners to observe their cat for a few hours after vaccination. Sometimes cats will just feel poorly and be lethargic the day following vaccinations. Because of the potential severity of the reaction, our hospital does not change the type of dog and cat vaccines used. This way, we know how our pets will react based upon previous vaccination. However, we do like clients to observe their pets after each vaccination because occasionally the drug companies will improve (and therefore change) their vaccines.

Dogs can have three different types of vaccine reactions:

Anaphylactice response—what we like to call the collapsing puppy syndrome. This happens less than two percent of the time and is usually within ten to fifteen minutes.

Allergic response—with this reaction, the eyelids, nose, lips, and face puff up and the dogs get lumps (hives) all over their body. This reaction can occur within fifteen to thirty minutes, one to two hours later, or six to eight hours later. This reaction usually responds very well to benadryl.

Delayed cellular response—with this reaction, dogs get a lump on their body where the vaccine was given. This lump may occur within one to three weeks of the vaccination, is usually non-painful and may take one to two weeks to go away.

RARE REACTIONS

Part of the controversy surrounding vaccines involves the possibility of vaccine associated tumors and auto-immune disease.

Feline Vaccine Associated Sarcomas first came to our attention over 10 years ago. It occurs in less than four in 10,000 cats from vaccinations. The researchers do not know whether it is related to the Feline Leukemia or the Rabies vaccine. They believe that it is related to the adjuvant in the vaccine. I have seen less than a dozen cats in over 12 years with this tumor.

Feline Leukemia virus kills cats no questions asked, so we must weigh the risk/benefit ratio of possible vaccine reactions versus the known risk of FELV disease. It is estimated that 20 to 30% of the cat population is infected with this virus. Outdoor cats are at highest risk. We only recommend this vaccine for outdoor cats or cats exposed to outdoor cats. We do not recommend this vaccine for indoor cats who have no contact with other cats.

Rabies is still a problem in Texas. A few years ago two rabid bats were found on Houston school buses! Also recently, a kitten sold at a College Station pet store exposed dozens of people at Texas A&M Small Animal Hospital! Texas law no longer requires us to vaccinate pets annually for Rabies when using a three year Rabies vaccine. We use the Purevax Rabies vaccine for cats which does not have an adjuvant and is therefore less likely to be associated with any possible vaccine reaction. Because this is a one year vaccine, our cats will still need to be vaccinated annually for Rabies.

Autoimmune disease can occur in dogs for a number of reasons – genetic/hereditary, viral or bacterial infection, drugs, and vaccines. It is estimated to occur in less than four in 10,000 dogs because of vaccinations. Our hospital has seen less than half a dozen dogs with autoimmune disease where vaccines were suspect. Autoimmune disease can also be brought on by numerous causes other that just vaccines, so it is difficult to implicate vaccination as a definitive cause in these cases.

Parvovirus is one of the top three killers of puppies. Every year, our hospital sees dozens of cases of parvo. What is heartbreaking to us and their owners is the fact that despite our bestefforts, some of these pets die. What is also heartbreaking is when an owner elects to humanely euthanize their pet because they cannot afford the expensive treatment. This disease can easily be prevented with proper vaccination!

Distemper is a virus that kills 90% of infected dogs, not 50% as stated in some articles. It is highly contagious and can be spread through the air. Fortunately we see only a few cases of this each year. There is no treatment other than supportive care. One note of interest: a few years ago, there was a Distemper outbreak in Pearland and Friendswood. None of our vaccinated patients came down with the disease. Perhaps because they were vaccinated?

We take these factors into account when choosing our vaccines, where they are administered, and by not varying the type of vaccine given. It is our belief that the risk of contracting the diseases against which we vaccinate far outweighs the potential risk associated with the vaccines. We still see far too many cases of Canine Parvovirus, FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency virus) and Feline Leukemia in our hospital!

VACCINE PROTOCOL

CANINES:

DHPPC—Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus & Coronavirus This vaccine needs to be given as a part of the puppy series (booster vaccines 3 weeks apart from 6-18 weeks of age) and again at 12 months of age. It will then be given once every 3 years unless indicated otherwise based upon the needs of the pet.

Bordetella—This vaccine is to be given at 3-4 months of age and boostered every 6 months. It is required every 6 months at our hospital for all hospitalized, boarding, surgical and dental patients.

Rabies—Per state law, this vaccine is to be given at 4 months of age, 12 months later and then every 3 years using a 3 year vaccine. It is our recommendation that pets at high risk of exposure to rabies (hunting and working dogs, camping dogs and rural/country dogs) be vaccinated at a more frequent interval. Rabies is fatal not only to animals, but also to people!

Lyme—This vaccine is recommended annually for those dogs exposed to ticks. Not all dogs need this vaccine. It is our strong recommendation that all dogs at risk of exposure to ticks be placed on tick repellant/insecticidal products.

Leptospira—This vaccine is only recommended for hunting, working, and outdoor/rural dogs. Leptospira is contagious to people. Unfortunately this vaccine does not protect against all of the serovars (sub-types) of this disease and therefore your dog cannot be considered fully protected from this disease.

FELINES:

FVRCP—Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia This vaccine is to be given to all cats every 3 years following their kitten series (booster vaccines 3 weeks apart from 6-18 weeks of age) and an annual booster. We do recommend more frequent vaccination in multi-cat households and for outdoor cats.

Rabies—Per state law, this vaccine is to be given at 4 months of age, 12 months later and then every 3 years using a 3 year vaccine or annually using a 1 year vaccine. We are currently using a 1 year vaccine for our feline patients because that particular vaccine is non-adjuvanted with less risk of reaction.

FeLV—Feline Leukemia Virus This vaccine is recommended for all outdoor and indoor/outdoor cats on an annual basis following kitten series vaccinations.

FIV—Feline Immunodeficiency Virus This vaccine is recommended for all outdoor cats and indoor/outdoor cats on an annual basis following kitten series vaccinations. Cats will need to be tested for FIV infection prior to vaccination.

Like any reputable hospital, we require vaccinations prior to boarding and surgery, but we do not require that patients get them from us. We are happy to accept them from any licensed veterinarian/veterinary hospital. We truly believe that regular vaccinations are extremely important in ensuring your pet’s well being.

OTHER PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Do not take the young puppy/kitten to the front yard, park, around the block, or to PETSMART until he is 4-5 months old. These are all places where infectious animals can be or have been.

Only have the young puppy/kitten around adult animals that YOU KNOW are current on vaccinations. There should be no contact with stray animals or animals that you are not sure of.

Do not let the puppy (kitten) be exposed to any other young puppies (kittens), even those coming to our hospital to receive vaccines. These animals could be incubating disease (and therefore be contagious) without showing any clinical signs of illness.

Always wash your hands after handling any animal.

When bringing your puppy/kitten to a veterinary hospital for it’s series of vaccines, we recommend that you do not let the pet walk around on the ground. While we take protective measures to decrease exposure to disease, we cannot guarantee 100% effectiveness of these measures and we do have sick animals that owners will walk outside the hospital.

We strongly recommend physical examinations twice a year on your pet. Our pets age more rapidly than we do. More frequent examinations will help us to achieve early detection of hidden health problems and make it easier to manage them, effectively lengthening your pet’s life and also improving his/her quality of life.

Please do not hesitate to talk with a Doctor should you have any concerns or questions.

Vaccines DO NOT cause a disease, but act as a stimulus to your pet’s immune system, causing it to produce ANTIBODIES capable of protecting your pet against those specific diseases. Antibodies fight disease by killing disease-causing organisms within the body

Antibody levels produced by the initial vaccination diminish with time. When your pet is re-vaccinated, its immune system is stimulated to “remember” the specific disease organism and manufacture more of the appropriate antibodies. The amount of memory is dependent upon the timing of the vaccinations. After the first vaccination, an immune response occurs. The strength and length of this response is similar to a “bell curve” with the strongest response (peak) occurring within a month of the vaccination. After a month, the number of ‘memory cells’ diminish. When the second vaccination is given within a month of the first one, a much stronger response (and therefore memory) is stimulated. However, if the time until the second booster vaccination is longer than a month, then the amount of is much the same as the first vaccination. By the time the third of fourth booster is given (and at the appropriate time intervals), the puppy or kitten will have a much strengthened immune response (antibodies) to that specific disease. Because of these developed antibodies (with the full series of booster vaccinations), the pet will then only need booster vaccinations at appropriate intervals to keep the memory cells (antibodies) replenished.

Vaccines are NOT GUARANTEED to prevent disease because too many variables are involved. The most important factor is the immune system of the individual pet. Like people, pets have varying abilities to respond to vaccines and fight off an infection. Some animals naturally respond better to vaccination than others.

Very young puppies and kittens, as well as aging pets, appear to have diminished ability to respond to vaccinations. In such cases, it is critical that the pet be re-vaccinated at the appropriate interval. An animal that is underweight, pregnant, or stressed because of a serious infestation of parasites or other illness also may respond poorly to vaccination.

If an animal is exposed to disease shortly before or after vaccination, it may not have sufficient time to develop immunity from the vaccination before it becomes sick. This often occurs in pets adopted from shelters where they have been exposed to all sorts of diseases (many of these diseases are not the fault of the shelter as many of them are air-borne). Remember that it takes time for a disease to develop after exposure, and the vaccine may not have enough time to activate the pet’s immune system if the disease is already working in the pet’s body.

The role of Maternal Antibodies in immunization is a two-edged sword. Normal puppies and kittens, which are allowed to nurse, absorb antibodies from their mother’s milk or colostrum. This only occurs during the first 6-12 hours of life. The mother has obtained these antibodies from prior vaccination or by natural exposure to diseases. These antibodies provide the puppy or kitten with passive immunity which will protect them from infection early in life. The strength of this immunity is directly related to the strength of the mother’s own immune system. The problem with these maternal antibodies is that they also interfere/block the young animal’s response to vaccinations or active immunization. These maternal antibodies can interfere with vaccination for as long as 14 to 16 weeks in some puppies and kittens. A refractory period can exist in some puppies or kittens where very low, almost undetectable levels of maternal antibody will inhibit the vaccination process, but will NOT PROTECT the puppy/kitten from infection (from exposure to the natural virus). To determine the exact time at which this refractory period occurs is VERY EXPENSIVE. Therefore, a SERIES of vaccinations is the most inexpensive and best way to protect puppies and kittens against disease, insuring vaccination at the best time. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BEGIN VACCINATIONS AT AN EARLY AGE AND REPEAT EVERY 3-4 WEEKS UNTIL THE PUPPY OR KITTEN IS AT LEAST 16-18 WEEKS OLD.

Because of the different strengths of response each puppy and kitten will have to vaccination, they can still be highly susceptible to infection until 2-4 weeks after the last injection of the immunization series.

Other protective measures include:

• Do not take the young puppy/kitten to the front yard, park, around the block, or to pet store. These are all places where infectious animals can be or have been.
• Only have the young puppy/kitten around adult animals that YOU KNOW are current on vaccinations. There should be no contact with stray animals or animals that you are not sure of.
• Do not let the puppy (kitten) be exposed to any other young puppies (kittens). These animals could be incubating disease (and therefore be contagious) without showing any clinical signs of illness.
• Always wash your hands after handling any animal.

Recommended vaccinations for dogs:

DISTEMPER, HEPATITIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS (Hunting or farm dog), PARAINFLUENZA, PARVOVIRUS, CORONAVIRUS, KENNEL COUGH, RABIES, LYME (if exposure to ticks)

Recommended vaccinations for cats:

FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA (DISTEMPER), CALICIVIRUS, RHINOTRACHEITIS, PNEUMONITIS, CHLAMYDIA, FELINE LEUKEMIA (Outdoor cats), FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (Outdoor cats), RABIES

Fortunately, many of the above vaccines are available in the same injection.

We DO NOT recommend owner-administered vaccinations for the following reasons:

1. Written instructions provided with over-the-counter vaccines cannot adequately educate you on proper vaccine administration. Would you vaccinate your own child for measles if the pharmacist provided you with the vaccine and syringe?
2. Injury to yourself or others can occur because of lack of training. Children can pick up a needle and stick themselves, or you may be bitten while attempting to vaccinate your pet.
3. Vaccines purchased over-the-counter are often improperly handled and thus in-effective. You have NO control over the handling of the vaccine before you purchase it. Veterinarians know where their biologics come from and choose them based on effectiveness and handling.
4. Vaccination schedules must be individualized for each pet depending on breed, time of year, and area of the country. There is NO set vaccination schedule that is the best for all pets that we see. The program must be individualized for each individual pet to develop its best protection.
5. Vaccines administered to an unhealthy animal may be ineffective, or even HARM the pet. No pet should be vaccinated without a prior PHYSICAL EXAMINATION performed by a licensed veterinarian skilled in diagnosing potential problems.
6. Severe ALLERGIC REACTIONS (Anaphylaxis) may occur following routine vaccine administration. Pet owners are NOT EQUIPPED to handle this complication.
7. Syringes and Needles are considered HAZARDOUS MEDICAL WASTE. Disposal of such items can lead to devastating consequences.
8. PETS NEED REGULAR VETERINARY CARE. Just as your child needs regular check-ups, your pet does too! Puppies and kittens should be examined every 4 weeks during the initial vaccination series to ensure proper growth, diet, parasite control, and behavior. Adult dogs and cats should have a complete physical examination every year. Early detection of tumors, diseases, and parasites helps ensure a better life for your pet AND your family.

The health and well-being of your companion animals and the promotion of responsible pet ownership are our primary concerns. WE CARE!!