Got a question on Monday's post dealing with vaccinations. I made a comment about the efficacy of 
vaccines that may have been misleading. I certainly did not mean to imply that vaccinations were ineffective. Quite the opposite in fact.
Regular vaccinations are a key component of any preventive health program. But there is so much confusion out there about new vaccine protocols that I thought it might be a good idea to clear things up. Let's start with dogs and tomorrow we'll deal with cats.
First of all, what exactly is a vaccine? Typically a vaccine consists of either the dead or attenuated variety of the pathogenic micro-organism. More commonly we use attenuated vaccines these days. This simply means that the formerly pathogenic organism, say the distemper virus, has been changed in a way that keeps if from causing overt disease.
While the attenuated virus won't cause disease, the immune system still recognizes the virus as a potential threat and mounts an immune response. This immune response remains effective for some time, meaning that if your dog is exposed to the actual virus the immune response from the vaccine protects your dog from coming down with the disease.
From time to time, boosters are required to re-establish an effective immune response. Recently veterinarians and immunologists have adjusted their thinking on how frequently boosters are required. The most recent guidelines were revised in 2006.
If you've had dogs in the past you may recall that your vet recommended that you get annual vaccinations. We now understand that in most cases the immune response lasts much longer than a year and most of the time annual boosters are no longer required.
I say most of the time because there are exceptions. For instance, some municipalities require rabies boosters every year and others every three years. We now have good rabies vaccines that provide protective immunity for at least three years.
If your dog is in frequent contact with other dogs at day care doggy facilities, travels frequently to dog shows or other events or roams outside (not recommended) he may need more frequent boosters.
Its best to talk to your own veterinarian and he or she can come up with a customized solution to fit your needs and circumstances.
Since vaccination is a medical procedure, on rare occasions there can be complications. Most often these are minor and involve localized swelling at the vaccination site, which usually resolves quickly. In very rare circumstances some pets may be allergic to vaccine and a severe life threatening reaction may occur. In that case, immediate veterinary care is indicated.
All in all the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks and should be a regular part of your pet's medical care.
For puppies: New born puppies and kittens receive immunity from the bitch or queen while nursing. These maternal antibodies begin to fade over time and puppies and kittens should start getting vaccinations shortly after weaning. Most people get puppies around 8-9 weeks of age and these pups have probably already gotten at least one round of vaccine.
Puppies should get boosters every 2-3 weeks until they are around four months old and then again at one year. After that, recommendations vary depending on individual need
.
For dogs there are core vaccinations that are usually given every three years and non-core vaccinations that are given based on individual circumstances. Core vaccinations are recommended for diseases that are highly contagious, often fatal and found throughout the US. These diseases include rabies, distemper, parvo virus and adenovirus. Non-core vaccinations may be recommended under special circumstances and include kennel cough, Lyme disease and leptospirosis.
Again, the best source of advice for your particular dog is your own veterinarian. He or she can help devise a plan to protect your dog based on how old your dog is, how often you travel together, and your dog's general health status.
In the next post, we'll discuss the vaccination needs of kittens and cats.
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