Fishers Veterinary Associates


	The goal when vaccinating a pet is to stimulate the pet's own immune system with the vaccine, in order to protect against a specific disease. Traditionally, in the dog and cat, vaccinations have been given annually. Currently, the best recommendation as to which vaccines are appropriate for your pet will come from a discussion with your veterinarian. Below are a few of the most common vaccines for our area with a description of the disease that the vaccination prevents against. Canine Parvovirus Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the gastrointestinal tract of puppies, dogs, and wild canids. It also can damage the heart muscle in very young and unborn puppies. For more information go to www.avma.org . Canine Distemper Canine distemper is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and, often, the nervous systems of puppies, and dogs. The virus also infects wild canids ( foxes, wolves, coyotes), raccoons, skunks, and ferrets. For more information go to www.avma.org . Rabies Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Less commonly, rabies can be transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut on the skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal. Once the outward signs of the disease appear, rabies is nearly always fatal. For more information go to www.avma.org Feline Panleukopenia Also known as feline distemper, feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious, often fatal disease of cats. The disease is caused by a parvovirus transmitted by contact with infected cats, their feces, or environmental contamination. Signs of acute infection include fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, dyhydration, and abdominal pain. The virus is highly resistant and capable of surviving in the environment for months. Kittens without prior vaccination or exposure are most susceptible. Feline Respiratory Disease The great majority of feline respiratory diseases result from two easily transmitted infections, feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), caused by a herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus(FCV). FVR and FCV infections result in similar illnesses, characterized by nasal and ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, ulcers of the oral cavity, anorexia, depression and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Cats usually recover in one to two weeks, although cats with FVR can become persistently infected after returning to normal, shedding the virus during periods of stress. Kittens are at greater risk of FVR and FCV because they usually have had no prior vaccination or exposure and are highly susceptible to infection. Feline Leukemia Feline leukemia is a high-motality disease caused by the feline leukemia virus(FeLV). FeLV produces immunosuppression, which can then lead to other diseases or infections such as repiratory or gastrointestinal disease. Cats that survive these initial diseases may develop some form of cancer, hence the name feline leukemia. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with infected cats or with contaminated food dishes or litter boxes. The feline leukemia vaccination is now recommended for cats that have access to the outdoors.

The goal when vaccinating a pet is to stimulate the pet's own immune system with the vaccine, in order to protect against a specific disease. Traditionally, in the dog and cat, vaccinations have been given annually.

Currently, the best recommendation as to which vaccines are appropriate for your pet will come from a discussion with your veterinarian. Below are a few of the most common vaccines for our area with a description of the disease that the vaccination prevents against.

Canine Parvovirus
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the gastrointestinal tract of puppies, dogs, and wild canids. It also can damage the heart muscle in very young and unborn puppies. For more information go to www.avma.org .
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and, often, the nervous systems of puppies, and dogs. The virus also infects wild canids ( foxes, wolves, coyotes), raccoons, skunks, and ferrets. For more information go to www.avma.org .
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Less commonly, rabies can be transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut on the skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal. Once the outward signs of the disease appear, rabies is nearly always fatal. For more information go to www.avma.org
Feline Panleukopenia
Also known as feline distemper, feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious, often fatal disease of cats. The disease is caused by a parvovirus transmitted by contact with infected cats, their feces, or environmental contamination. Signs of acute infection include fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, dyhydration, and abdominal pain. The virus is highly resistant and capable of surviving in the environment for months. Kittens without prior vaccination or exposure are most susceptible.
Feline Respiratory Disease
The great majority of feline respiratory diseases result from two easily transmitted infections, feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), caused by a herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus(FCV). FVR and FCV infections result in similar illnesses, characterized by nasal and ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, ulcers of the oral cavity, anorexia, depression and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Cats usually recover in one to two weeks, although cats with FVR can become persistently infected after returning to normal, shedding the virus during periods of stress. Kittens are at greater risk of FVR and FCV because they usually have had no prior vaccination or exposure and are highly susceptible to infection.
Feline Leukemia
Feline leukemia is a high-motality disease caused by the feline leukemia virus(FeLV). FeLV produces immunosuppression, which can then lead to other diseases or infections such as repiratory or gastrointestinal disease. Cats that survive these initial diseases may develop some form of cancer, hence the name feline leukemia. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with infected cats or with contaminated food dishes or litter boxes. The feline leukemia vaccination is now recommended for cats that have access to the outdoors.