Canine Core Vaccines
These are vaccines that are recommended for all dogs regardless of their living circumstance. The recommendations are based on a combination of factors: the incidence of the disease, the ease of transmission to unprotected individuals, the virulence of the disease, the existence of effective treatment, and zoonotic potential (transmission to humans).
Rabies
This disease is Zoonotic. It is Found and feared around the world. Research has indicated that one out of 5 raccoons in Florida carry this disease. There have been numerous cases of rabies in dogs and cats in this area over the last 20 years. It is easily transmitted to humans through bites from infected animals or exposure to the saliva of infected animals. The disease causes severe physical and neurologic symptoms that cause much suffering in individuals who are stricken with it. There is no effective treatment in pets or in humans once clinical signs develop, all cases result in death.
Distemper
This disease initially attacks the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract of dogs. It causes some or all of the following symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, purulent nasal and ocular discharge, and pneumonia. The disease subsequently moves to the central nervous system where it leads to seizures and ultimately to the death of the dog. There is no treatment for this disease. This disease is highly transmissible to unprotected dogs in circumstances like: dog parks, beach, highway rest stops, grooming parlors, boarding facilities, daycare facilities, animal shelters. This disease is not a zoonotic disease.
Parvo
This disease attacks the gastrointestinal tract. The virus invades the cells that line the intestines and kills those cells. This leads to severe bloody diarrhea. This causes severe dehydration, blood loss, and the absorption of bacteria and toxins across the compromised intestinal lining leading to sepsis. This disease is highly transmissible to unprotected dogs. The virus particles shed by an infected dog can remain viable in the environment for months. Thus an unprotected dog could contract this disease from picking up the virus particles that had been shed by an infected dog into the environment months ago. This disease is treated with hospitalization for a number of days whereby the patient is on intravenous fluids to combat the severe dehydration and on injectable antibiotics to combat secondary bacterial infections. It is expensive to treat and not all dogs suffering from this disease survive. This disease is not a zoonotic disease.
Bordatella
This disease attacks the respiratory tracts of dogs. It causes symptoms that vary from a nuisance cough to pneumonia. The bacterium initially attacks the cells that line the trachea and bronchi of the patient. This causes a cough that may be almost intractable. If unchecked it can progress to infecting the lung tissue itself (pneumonia). This frequently happens in young puppies and in geriatric patients. This disease is HIGHLY transmissible. It is spread by aerosol particles from coughing/sneezing dogs that suffer from the disease. This disease does not require contact with the infected dog, only proximity to the infected dog. This disease is commonly transmitted in boarding facilities, grooming parlors, animal shelters, daycare facilities, dog parks, etc... Bordatella is treated with antibiotics. Dogs that develop pneumonia are treated until all evidence of the disease is gone based on serial radiographic studies (x-rays). This usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. It can be very expensive to treat.
Other Recommended Canine Vaccines
These vaccines may be appropriate for your dog based on immediate environment and lifestyle.
Leptospirosis
This disease generally attacks the liver and or the kidneys of dogs that acquire the disease. It causes inflammation to these organs and can, if untreated lead to death. Small mammals that are carriers of this disease. Rats, Mice, Raccoons, Opossums, and other wild mammals carry the disease. The dog does not have to catch, kill, and eat the carrier animals to get the disease. The carrier animals shed the bacteria in their urine and feces. These bacteria stay viable in warm moist soil for up to 9 months. As dogs walk through contaminated soil, the bacteria get on their feet, they lick their feet, and they contract the disease. Dogs that live in environments where these animal are also present are at risk for this disease. This disease is treatable if caught early enough. Hospitalization with injectable antibiotics and frequently intravenous fluids are necessary. Urine and feces from infected dogs are considered hazardous waste to humans. They must be “Red Bagged” and properly disposed of through licensed hazardous waste processors. This disease is a zoonotic (a disease of animals and people). It is the most widespread zoonotic disease in the world.
Lyme Disease
Carried by Deer ticks (Ixodes ticks), this disease attacks different systems in different dogs. Most have arthritis that can affect one or more legs and cause lameness. In some dogs other systems are attacked: Kidneys, Heart, and Central Nervous System. These ticks are found in Florida and there have been many cases in the state. At this clinic, dogs tested for heartworms are also tested for Lyme Disease. In any given year 10 to 12 cases are detected. This is also a disease of people, however this disease cannot be contracted from a pet. It can only be contracted directly from the infected tick. This disease is treated with antibiotics. Just like in people however, some dogs will remain persistently infected and have relapses of the symptoms of the disease. Dogs that become chronically infected must be monitored with periodic blood testing.
Canine Influenza
Viral disease that attacks the respiratory tract. The disease is highly transmissible. It is spread by aerosol particles from infected dogs to uninfected dogs. The disease can cause pneumonia if not identified and treated early. Hospitalization and supportive care is required for severe cases. The incidence of the disease varies in the US. The number of confirmed cases in Florida puts into the top 5 of all 50 states.