Veterinary Vaccinations

Diseases that Veterinarians can vaccinate against

The DA2PP/DH2PP, Rabies, and FVRCP vaccines are used to treat a variety of illnesses in dogs and cats. Expand the sections below to learn more about the different diseases that these vaccinations can treat:

Canine Distemper Virus
  • Highly contagious
  • Spread by contact with wildlife (racoons, skunks, foxes) as well as dogs
  • Affects the following systems:
    -Gastrointestinal (vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite)
    – Respiratory (pneumonia, snotty nose/eyes, coughing, sneezing, difficulty   breathing)
    -Skin (thickening of nose and paw pads, skin sores/infections)
    -Immune (fever, lethargy)
    -Central nervous system (seizures, twitching, head tilt, circling, salivating, paralysis, comatose)
  • No treatment, just supportive care, often fatal
  • If they survive, they will likely have lifelong medical issues
  • Not zoonotic (does not affect people)
Canine Infectious Hepatitis (Adenovirus)
  • Contagious viral disease affecting the liver, kidney, eyes, and coagulation cascade
  • Spread by contact with wildlife (foxes, wolves, coyotes, otters, bears) as well as dogs
  • Mild Form:
    – fever, depression, loss of appetite
    – can progress to upper respiratory signs
    -cough, runny eyes/nose, can cause cloudiness to cornea
    – ‘blue eyes’
  • Severe Form:
    – all of the above plus abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, edema of the head and neck from vasculitis, jaundice from liver damage, bruising and bleeding can be fatal
  • No treatment, just supportive care
  • Can recover without long lasting effects but some will have lasting liver and kidney damage
  • Not zoonotic (does not affect people)
Canine Parvovirus
  • Highly contagious, puppies very susceptible
  • Spread by contact with feces from infected dogs or fomites (due to its environmental stability, it is easily spread on the hair, feet of infected dogs, shoes, clothes or any other surface/object exposed to contaminated feces)
  • Causes vomiting/diarrhea, anorexia à severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, destruction of WBCs needed to fight off secondary infections, erosion of gut lining à translocation of gut bacteria à septicemia
  • Very aggressive intensive care treatment can save puppy but nearly 100% fatal untreated
  • a 1:30 bleach solution with a 10 minute contact time can destroy parvovirus in the environment
  • Not zoonotic (does not affect people)
  • Virus is shed for 2 weeks after recovery
  • Easily diagnosed with a parvo Snap test
Canine Parainfluenza
  • Highly contagious respiratory infection
  • One of the pathogens causing ‘Kennel Cough’
  • Spread through aerosol droplets
  • Causes respiratory signs
      -pneumonia
      -snotty nose/eyes
      -coughing
      -sneezing
      -difficulty breathin
  • Usually will get better on their own unless they have a weakened immune system
  • Not zoonotic (does not affect people)
Rabies
  • Affects the central nervous system of dogs, cats, wildlife and us!
  • Huge public health and safety issue- rabies prevention is the reason for this program
  • Transmitted through contact with the saliva or bodily fluids of an infected animal- usually bites or scratches
  • Dogs and cats are primarily infected by wildlife (skunks, foxes, raccoons, bats)
  • Once symptoms of rabies appear there is no treatment and it is 100% fatal
  • An infected animal may exhibit:
      -unusual behaviour
      -foaming at mouth
      -difficulties drinking/swallowing
      -aggression to people or objects
      -nervousness, light/sound sensitivity
      -vocalizations
      -paralysis or other neurological signs
  • Increasing the number of pets that are vaccinated for rabies vastly reduces the risk to the community
  • If you are bitten or scratched you MUST wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and contact Public Health
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis
  • highly contagious respiratory disease in cats caused by feline herpesvirus
  • causes fever, eye infections/inflammation, snotty/congested nose, sneezing, anorexia
  • severe cases can have ulceration of the cornea- very painful and damaging to the eye
  • once infected cats become lifelong carriersà virus reactivated during times of stress and illness
  • lots of cats will get better on their own but some may need eye ointments/drops and systemic antibiotics to help clear secondary infections, supportive care to keep them hydrated and eating is crucial
  • cats with nasal congestion will benefit from increased environmental humidificationà take into steamy bathroom for 10-15 minutes several times a day
  • cats may have a decreased sense of smell while sick. Feed smelly, warmed, tasty canned food
  • only affects cats, not zoonotic
Feline Calicivirus
  • highly contagious virus of cats that causes the typical signs of an upper respiratory infection- sneezing, nasal congestion and discharge, eye infections/inflammation, BUT ALSO ulcers on the tongue, hard palate, gums, lips or noseà these cats will drool excessively because the ulcers are very painful and will be reluctant to eat or drink
  • it can also cause limping in kittens and fever
  • spread by secretions of infected cats but can also be carried on people’s clothes and hands and contaminated environments
  • treatment is supportive and symptomatic- meds to bring down fever and treat pain, antibiotics for secondary infections, appetite stimulants, fluid therapy, supportive care like with feline viral rhinotracheitis
  • only affects cats, not zoonotic
  • recovered cats can be lifelong carriers
Feline Panleukopenia Virus
  • also known as feline distemper and is caused by feline parvovirus
  • it targets the rapidly dividing cells of the gut and the immune system
  • the term ‘panleukopenia’ refers to the significant decrease in white blood cells needed to fight off infection
  • affects the cat the same way parvovirus affects the dog- Causes vomiting/diarrhea, anorexia -> severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, destruction of WBCs needed to fight off secondary infections, erosion of gut lining -> translocation of gut bacteria -> septicemia
  • very aggressive intensive care treatment can save kitten, highly fatal if left untreated
  • very hardy and resistant in the environment
  • virus is shed for 6 weeks after recovery
  • a 1:30 bleach solution with a 10 minute contact time can destroy panleukopenia virus in the environment

Vaccination Schedules

The vaccinations to treat these different diseases have different schedules. Those schedules, and the requirements associated with the different vaccines, are found below:

Rabies

  • Cat or dog MUST be older than 12 weeks (look for eruption of an adult incisor)
  • Always give 1mL dose (either come in single dose 1mL vials or multi-dose 10mL vials)
  • Everyone only gets 1 rabies vaccine to start
  • Booster 1 year after initial (first) rabies vaccine
  • Then given every 3 years after 1 year booster
  • Any lapse in that booster pattern resets the next booster to 1 year
  • This vaccine is very important for public health investigations after dog bites

DH2PP

  • Ideally start vaccines at 8 weeks (in vulnerable animals can start at 4 weeks-means more boosters needed)
  • Everyone gets an initial vaccine series:
    • Puppies < 16 weeks (4 months): Booster every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age or older
    • If older than 16 weeks at time of 1st vaccine- only give 1 booster 4 weeks later
  • Everyone gets a booster 1 year after their initial series
  • Boosters are every 3 years after that
  • Any lapse in booster pattern rests the next booster to 1 year

FVRCP

  • Ideally start vaccines at 8 weeks (in vulnerable animals can start at 4 weeks-means more boosters needed)
  • Everyone gets an initial vaccine series:
    • Kittens < 16 weeks: Booster every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age or older
    • If older than 16 weeks at time of 1st vaccine- only give 1 booster 4 weeks later
  • Everyone gets a booster 1 year after their initial series
  • Boosters are every 3 years after that
  • Any lapse in booster pattern rests the next booster to 1 year

Vaccine Handling

Vaccine Shipping

  • Arranged through an appropriate freight company that can accommodate storage needs of vaccines
  • Vaccines must remain cold (between 2-8℃) and cannot freeze
  • Must be shipped in coolers to maintain appropriate temperature during transport- this limits the duration of shipping
  • Vaccines must be received immediately upon arrival and placed in refrigerator right away

Vaccine Handling

  • Must be stored in a refrigerator (2-8℃)
  • They must be stored in a dedicated secure place like nursing station, hospital, wellness centre, or doctor’s office (not a private dwelling)
  • If refrigeration is ever compromised (loss of power etc), all affected vaccines should be thrown out- When in doubt, throw it out!
  • Do NOT allow vaccines to freeze

Drawing up Vaccines

  • Vaccines must remain in their vial and in the fridge (or cooler with ice packs) until you are ready to vaccinate the animal
    • Do not draw up the vaccine too early and leave it out at room temperature or outside where it can freeze
    • Vaccines can be drawn up for the day and left in the fridge (or cooler with ice packs) but any vaccine in a syringe that is not used by the end of the day must be thrown out
    • Rabies will come in a liquid form you draw up directly (either single dose 1mL vial or multi-dose 10 ml vial where you draw up 1 mL per animal- can vaccinate 10 animals per vial)
    • FVRCP and DH2PP need to be mixed- they come as 1 powder vial and 1 diluent (sterile saline) vial, usually they end up being 1 mL but sometimes are 0.5 mL
    • Always use a new needle between animals
    • Only draw up 1 vaccine type per syringe, never mix them

Vaccine Administration

How and where to Give Vaccines

  • If administering 2 vaccines on the same animal use two different locations- i.e. Rabies on the Right side and FVRCP or DH2PP on the left side
  • Record the location you gave each vaccine on the medical record
  • All vaccines are given under the skin only- subcutaneous injection, not in the mouth
  • Never give an expired vaccine
  • Every sized animal gets the same dose- no half dose for smaller animals
  • If you accidentally lose some of the vaccine during vaccination, always draw up another dose and repeat the vaccine- it is safer to give them slightly more than they need than not enough to provide a proper immune response
  • Vaccines aren’t considered protective to the animal until 2 weeks after administration

What about cats?

  • Cats can get tumours (sarcomas) that develop at the site of any injection (not just vaccines)
  • Risk is lower with newer developed vaccines but there is still a risk
  • The veterinary community advocates for vaccinating low on the legs or on the tail so that if a tumour develops you can amputate that part of the body to save the cat
  • BUT it can be very challenging to vaccinate in these areas on a moving cat and there is not a lot of skin to tent up or space to work in
  • ALSO struggling to handle these sensitive areas can use up what little patience the cat has à leading to a fractious cat that you can’t vaccinate at all

Note: the MOST important thing is that vaccines get into cats.

  • The easiest place to vaccinate is on the back of the neck and shoulders because there is lots of skin to tent and cats aren’t as sensitive to this area being handled
  • If the cat is not co-operating and is covered with a towel/blanket, the next easiest place is the hips and thighs
  • As you get more comfortable you can work on delivering the vaccines further down the sides of the body towards the limbs

Disposal

  • Place your vial stickers on the medical record so you have the serial number or record it by hand
  • Place all needles in a sharps/biohazard container
  • Plastic syringe body can go in regular garbage

Vaccine Reactions

Mild Reactions:

  • Swelling or pain at the site of the needle poke
  • Feeling tired
  • Decreased appetite
  • Low grade fever
  • These side effects don’t require treatment and usually go away in a day.

Serious Reactions (Uncommon, but possible):

  • Allergic reactions (hives, facial swelling, vomiting, diarrhea)
  • May progress to difficulty breathing or collapse
  • Rarely, tumour development at the injection site (much less common today with advances in vaccines)
  • The likelihood of a dangerous vaccine reaction is much lower than the risk an unvaccinated pet faces from contracting a deadly disease.  Record and report all vaccine reactions to SV. Discuss how to manage the risk of future reactions at booster appointments.

Treating Vaccine Reactions

You must keep Benadryl on hand for every vaccine that is administered.

Benadryl Dosing Chart: Benadryl is very safe. Do not worry if you don’t see the pet’s exact weight in the chart. If a pet is between two weights on the chart, it is safe to round up to the higher dose.

CAUTION: Please be aware that some children’s medications may contain sweeteners like xylitol that are toxic to pets. Also be careful that the allergy medication doesn’t have any other medicines combined with it like acetaminophen, as this is very toxic to cats.  When buying Benadryl make sure the only ingredient is diphenhydramine.

Additional Resources:

Lay Vaccinator Presentation