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Vaccinations and Preventative Care

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For Rabbits:

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a highly contagious viral disease that can be fatal to rabbits who contract it. This disease is not treatable, but it is preventable with proper precautions. Vaccinating your rabbit for RHD once a year is the best way to protect them from getting sick, a vaccine we carry here at the hospital.

RHD is transmitted through contact with sick rabbits or their bodily fluids such as saliva, nasal discharge, urine, feces, or blood so it is highly recommended to keep your pets environment clean by regularly washing bedding, mats, and items they frequently come in contact with. The disease can also stay on surfaces for extended periods of time which means it is possible to contract it through the objects and environment a sick rabbit has interacted with including cages, carriers, bedding, water and food bowls. It is possible for you to bring the disease home with you on your clothing and hands, when introducing new rabbits or bringing home used rabbit items.

We also advise you to use precaution when taking pet rabbits outside for enrichment and socialization. This can highly increase the risk of them contracting RHDV from wild rabbits even if the rabbits do not come in contact with each other. They are also at risk for picking up internal and external parasites when they are outside.

Symptoms of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease can present as;

  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Depression
  • Shortness of breath
  • Bloody discharge from nose
  • Blood spots in eyes
  • Neurological signs such as difficulty walking, seizures or paralysis

If your rabbit is displaying these symptoms it is important to get them to a vet as soon as possible.

 

For Canines:

Core Vaccines:

  • DA2PP (Distemper, Adenovirus-2, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus)- This vaccination covers the core conditions that dogs are most probable for contracting. In puppies this vaccination needs to be boostered 3 times- at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. For puppies/dogs over 6 months of age who has not been vaccinated properly it is recommended they receive an initial dose and a booster dose in 4 weeks. In properly vaccinated dogs after their first year booster the vaccination becomes an every 3 year vaccine.

If a puppy is getting their first vaccinations under 8 weeks of age, example 6 weeks of age we advise to still give 3 doses of the DA2PP, the reason for this is that the vaccine is now being challenged by the mother’s antibodies (passed through the milk) to the puppy, studies have shown that the ideal vaccination time is 8 weeks of age as this is when the antibodies from the mother are waning and the puppy is developing their own immune system. It is the puppy’s immune system that needs to build these antibodies to assure they are being properly protected. Vaccinating at 6 weeks if in a kennel type setting makes sense to protect against parvovirus while they are young but they still need to have this vaccine repeated to assure protection.

Distemper is a virus that is multisystemic disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. This virus can affect local wildlife and can be seen commonly in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes to name a few.

Adenovirus depending on the strain of this viral infection it can cause either liver related diseases or upper respiratory related diseases.

Parainfluenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is one of the most common pathogens of infectious tracheobronchitis or more commonly known as a canine cough not to be mistaken for Kennel Cough

  • Leptospirosis– This vaccination covers for the 4 popular strains of Leptospirosis that can be contracted. Leptospirosis is a Zoonotic disease, meaning humans can contract if they come in contact. This disease causes kidney/liver failure and if left untreated is fatal. This disease comes from a bacteria transmitted through the infected animal (usually wildlife’s) urine. Due to the nature of the disease being zoonotic it is included in our core vaccinations. This vaccine requires a booster if the dog had never had the vaccine in the past 4 weeks from initial dose. This is an annual vaccine and must be given yearly.
  • Bordetella – This vaccination protects against a bacteria that can cause respiratory issues. There are multiple strains of bordetella and as such the most common are vaccinated against. This does not mean that dogs who are vaccinated for Bordetella cannot contract the condition. It just means that they are not as likely to have severe symptoms. Strongly recommended for dogs that require grooming, dogs going into boarding or doggy day care. This vaccine needs to be given orally or intranasally for the initial dose and can be given by either oral or injectable booster yearly.
  • Rabies- This vaccine is required by law as this virus is zoonotic and there is no cure. Rabies is fatal in almost all cases where contracted. Even in pets that are not commonly going outside it is still important to keep them up to date on their rabies vaccination as one of the major carriers of Rabies especially in Ontario is from bats. Bats have a habit of being able to squeeze through very small cracks and get into peoples homes which may be a fun toy for some pets. After the initial year booster is given, rabies becomes a 3 year vaccine at our clinic.

Non- Core Vaccines:

  • Lyme Vaccine– This vaccine is considered a lifestyle vaccine. It is recommended for people who are active out in the bush, those who hike, camping or travel up north. Lyme is transmitted by Deer Ticks and while prevention does exist this vaccine offers more protection for your dog. There is an additional charge for this vaccine. An initial vaccine needs to be given with a 4 week booster following. This is a yearly vaccine.

 

For Felines:

Core Vaccines:

    • FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis , Calicivirus and Panleukopenia) These are common upper respiratory viruses that cats can contract. Rhinotracheitis is triggered by herpes virus. Calicivirus can cause ulcers in the mouth and other upper respiratory reactions. Panleukopenia is also referred to as Feline Distemper, which presents itself as vomiting/diarrhea and lethargy which can be fatal if left untreated. In kittens this combo vaccine needs to be boostered 3 times – 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks. In kittens/cats over 6 months of age who has not been vaccinated properly it is recommended they receive an initial dose and a booster dose in 4 weeks. This vaccine is given yearly.
    • Rabies-This vaccine is required by law as this virus is zoonotic and there is no cure. Rabies is fatal in almost all cases where contracted. After the initial year booster is given, rabies becomes a 3 year vaccine at our clinic. It is important to stress to cat owners where even if their cat is solely indoors there is always a chance that a bat could get inside (one of the most common transmitters of rabies) or they could end up outside and in contact with a rabies positive animal.

Non Core Vaccine but strongly advised especially if your cat enjoys spending time outside.

  • Feline Leukemia– This vaccine is strongly recommended for cats that spend time indoor as well as outdoor where they are at risk for encountering infected cats. Feline leukemia is shed in saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk of infected cats. One of the most common forms of transition is through bite wounds. There is no cure for Feline Leukemia, while cats can still live a fairly normal life after diagnosis they do require more routine veterinary appointments, bloodwork and such to monitor how the condition is progressing. These cats should not be in contact with other cats unless that other cat also has Feline Leukemia and as such these cats should also be kept indoors to reduce transmission to healthy cats. This vaccine requires an initial dose with a 4 week booster and is a yearly vaccine.

Routine Deworming

Deworming is recommended to be completed for all puppies and kittens until about 5-6 months of age. Depending on what medication is given will depend on the frequency of the medication. Puppies/Kittens can be born with intestinal parasites and since they explore with their mouths it is easy to contract or reinfect.

Fecal Floatation– It is recommended to have a fecal floatation run for all puppies/kittens/new rescued patients coming into the clinic. Routine dewormers typically only deworm for roundworm, hookworm and whipworms, but there could be other hidden parasites such as coccidia or giardia that may be present. Stool samples being brought into the clinic can be transported in a ziploc or poop bag within ideally 2 hours and kept either in the fridge or cooler until able to drop off.