Vaccination Hospital Procedures

Important part of every animal’s health care program and are a large part of all veterinary practices. Vaccinations lessen the chance that an animal will contract a disease When and how often an animal is vaccinated will vary from vet to vet and their location within the country.

Causes of Disease Disease are divided into two categories – Infections – Non infectious Disease are passed from animal to human are called zoonotic. (Non infectious is not zoonotic)

Infectious disease Caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae, helminthes, protozoa, and anrthropods. These disease-causing agents can enter an animal through the skin, mouth, mucous membranes, lungs, or reproductive tract.

Infectious Disease An spread by either direct or indirect means. – Direct: contact – Indirect: vectors, vehicles, and fomites Vectors- mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, flies Vehicles- equipment (brushes, buckets) Fomites- water, air, soil, food

Non-infectious disease Caused by dysfunctions of one ore more body systems, nutritional deficiencies, poisoning, physical injuries, or stress. Genetics and environment are also factors that cause non-infectious disease

Immunity Function of the lymph system and protects the body from infection, disease and foreign bodies. The immune system produces antibodies, which are specialized proteins designed to fight antigens. Antigens are any foreign substances that induce an immune response. Immunity can be established through active or passive means.

Passive Immunity When an animal is given antibodies that have already been produced by another individual. Only provides short-term immunity because the body breaks down the antibodies. Mothers give their newborns passive immunity through the placenta and by ingesting colostrum.

Active Immunity When an animal produces antibodies by natural or artificial means in response to an antigen. Active immunity is produced naturally when an animal is exposed to a disease and builds antibodies in response. It is produced artificially when an animal is vaccinated and builds antibodies in response to the vaccine.

Vaccines Vaccines are a substance that upon injection into an animal, stimulate an immune response. The two main types of vaccines are modified-live and killed.

Modified-live Vaccines are altered forms of specific antigens that are similar enough to the original disease- causing agent to cause a strong immune response without causing the disease

Killed Disease-causing agents that are inactivated by heat, chemical or mechanical means. Immunity developed with this vaccine is generally weaker than a modified-live vaccine. There is also a possibility that the animal is allergic to the compound used to destroy the disease-causing agents.

Disease to Vaccinate Dogs – Bordetella (Kennel cough) – Coronavirus – Distemper – Infectious hepatitis – Leptospirosis – Lume disease – Parainfluenza – Parvovirus – Rabies

Disease to Vaccinate Cats – Fine calicivirus – Feline infectious peritonitis – Feline leukemia virus – Feline viral rhinotrachetitis – Panleukopenia – Rabies