Earlier this month I had a conversation with a client who was upset that his dog had seizures related to the Rabies vaccination we administered a few days earlier. He wanted to blame the vaccine for the seizures. He was online and found plenty of data to back up his diagnosis. This dog has had reactions to the Distemper vaccinations in the past and they no longer allow her to be vaccinated for those infections. They have her sister from the same litter, and she has had no issues with vaccinations. I requested to see his sources to understand more where this connection is coming from. As of today, he has not sent me any additional information. I contacted the Zoetis company and asked if any changes had been made to their current Rabies vaccination since this dog has been vaccinated with this same vaccine three times. They created a case number since that is their protocol with any claims made against the vaccines. This vaccine has been in production in its current form since before I started practice in 1988.
On our exam room wall we have this framed print. We framed it for a good laugh with clients. Yet in situations like this I feel there are lots of reasons to question the information given to clients by google. Google can be a great source for many different things. When looking at cause and effect situations it can be a disaster. I have talked many clients off the edge during late-night phone calls because of what google said. Don’t get me wrong, I use google. It has been a great source for many “interesting minds want to know” situations. For medical advice and diagnosis, it can lead to assumptions and undue stress for clients.
In this current era there are numerous questions surrounding vaccinations. Most humans have definite opinions about vaccinations. As veterinarians we do place a high emphasis on keeping pets updated on not only vaccinations but also preventives. I want to discuss the reasons for my recommendations. Keep in mind this is one veterinarian’s opinion. I base my opinions on where I currently practice. I do not want anyone to assume that this is a one size fits all situations. I have a rural location that I practice in. I see racoon poop on my deck many mornings. I have deer in my flower beds, hay field, and by the apple tree all the time. Coyotes howl every evening in the grove below my home. Skunk smell is often in the breeze as I walk in the morning. I have bat houses to control the mosquito population around my home. I live in the country, and I love it. A majority of the clients we see at WVC either live in the country or spend numerous hours exploring the natural wonders around us. There are daily encounters of our furry friends having close associations with wildlife and external parasites. No one should ignore the risk our pets have when it comes to the “real world” experiences.
The Distemper vaccination or DHPPL as it is abbreviated at WVC covers 5 different infections our dogs can encounter. Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is a paramyxovirus and is the letter “D” in our vaccine. This virus can attack the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and/or the nervous system of our dogs. It is highly contagious.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis is the “H” in our vaccination. It is caused by the canine adenovirus -1 (CAV-1). This virus cannot infect humans and that is important to note since we have our own version of hepatitis.
Canine parvovirus is caused by canine parvovirus -2 (CPV-2). This is one of the “Ps” in our abbreviation of DHPPL. This is highly contagious between dogs, especially in the young dogs that have been unvaccinated. It attacks the gastrointestinal system (gut) and causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. The puppies get dehydrated quickly and, in some cases, it can attack their heart causing sudden death. Most people have heard about this infection, and many have personal experiences with it. It Is one of the most common infections of puppies and has a high percentage of death associated with it.
The second “P” in the vaccinations stands for Parainfluenza virus which is highly contagious between dogs. It can cause cough, nasal discharge, and lethargy. It is most commonly spread through airborne particles at boarding and grooming facilities. Direct contact is also possible, but most people know not to bring their dogs somewhere when they are coughing.
Leptospirosis is the “L” in our vaccination. This is a bacterial organism not a viral agent. This means that you must immunize your dog every year for this agent. It has a number of different strains and is a zoological disease. That means humans can get this from their animals. It is possible for dogs to get this condition from stagnant water or walking in the woods and encountering wildlife waste. Cattle and pigs are also susceptible to strains of Leptospirosis.
Our Rabies vaccinations are given to puppies for 1 year and for adults, that have a current rabies vaccination, for 3 years. Winterset Veterinary Center has been using Zoetis for its vaccinations since I started working here in 2007. These vaccinations have not been altered from their original composition. They are tested and protective in preventing devastating diseases our pets can encounter in their daily lives.
Heartworms are alive and well in Madison County. We have coyotes and foxes that carry heartworms. The same mosquitoes bite dogs that bite our wildlife. That is how this disease is transmitted. People want to say there are no mosquitoes at their place. Doubt after all this rain people are saying that now. There is standing water everywhere and that is perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. We are fortunate to have clients who recognize the serious nature of this disease. These worms live in the heart. They are not like an intestinal worm that we can give a pill and the worms are gone. These require intensive and expensive treatment to be killed. The recovery stage is difficult related to needing to keep your pet quiet and inactive while the heartworms are dying and the body is trying to remove them from the blood stream. Why would you put your dog at risk for this disease if we have easy and simple preventives.
What about cat vaccines. Where are their risks, especially when they spend most of their days indoors. Our cat vaccines are also from the same company. The formulas have not changed, and we have used the same vaccines since I started here in 2007. The PRCC vaccine that we give to all cats covers 3 respiratory conditions called Calicivirus(C), Rhinotracheitis(R), and chlamydia(C). All 3 cause respiratory issues like sneezing, nasal discharge, weepy eyes, fever may or may not be a problem. They can be airborne in transmission or contact with food and water bowls. Also, direct cat to cat contact can spread these diseases. They appear to be species specific. That means only cats are impacted by these infections. Indoor cats sit by open windows, screen doors, on patios, outside on leashes, etc. Any of those can allow an indoor cat to come down with these respiratory infections. The chlamydia is a bacterin and must be given every year. It is the most common infection people see in young immature kittens. The eyes are closed over with mucus. The nose may have discharge or just sneezing present. Usually, the infected cats will eat and drink but they look terrible. This infection responds nicely to antibiotics and eye medications. The other two have more serious clinical symptoms and often require hospitalization.
Panleukopenia(P) of the cat vaccine is seen in raccoon and foxes so any outdoor cats exploring their environment can be infected easily. This condition causes severe digestive issues like vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and even death. It could be said it is like the parvovirus in dogs. It is prevalent in any environment, so any young kittens, immune compromised cats, or unvaccinated cats are at risk.
Again, why would we not vaccinate our kittens/cats to give them protection from these diseases? It is economical and effective when given routinely. Kittens born to mother cats that are vaccinated get maternal antibodies that protect the kitten from these infections at a young age. By the time they are 6-8 weeks of age they should have their first vaccination from a veterinarian. We then do a series of shots up until they are 4 months of age. This gives them a fighting chance of surviving their first year of life.
Rabies vaccinations are extremely important to all dogs and cats. From the chart that is posted you can see how many animals carry rabies. It is a zoological disease since humans can contract it from all these animals as well. There is no treatment for Rabies. Once clinical signs appear the disease is 100% fatal. If someone is bitten and rabies is diagnosed, then that person must undergo immunizations to prevent rabies from developing. They do have success with these postexposure treatments, but time is of essence. If someone you know is bitten and the rabies status of that animal is unknown it is recommended for them to undergo postexposure treatments just in case. The discomfort associated with the treatment is better than dying a death from rabies infection.
Probably more information than you wanted to know. So why did my client’s dog have a seizure? I cannot answer that. I can say that heat and storms can trigger seizures. Related to the stress that some dogs undergo during those environmental changes. I have clients that tell me their dogs will have seizures when they have changes in their routines or company that visits, or people leave home to go to college. Years ago, when a dog had a seizure, we said it was idiopathic and started them on medications to prevent the seizures. We never cure the seizures with the medications. Today we can do MRI’s and CT scans to diagnose many causes of seizures. Yet as with humans, sometimes we cannot get answers for why things happen when they do. I realize the frustration with that. I wish I had answers for a lot of “whys” that I get asked. What I do know is that the vaccinations that we administer do protect our furry friends and allows them to live longer and healthier lives. Are there side effects? Of course. Does that mean that we stop doing vaccinations? No! The most common side effects are vomiting and facial swelling within 5 hours after a vaccination. Treatment is usually Benadryl or epinephrine or both. Owners should contact their veterinarian and inform them of the reaction. Most clinics make note of the reaction and then discuss options for immunizations in the future. Just because they had a reaction does not mean they can never be vaccinated again.
A few points to make to wrap this up. Be careful what you read on any internet site. People want to blame someone or something for any and all issues that their pet may be experiencing. There are numerous reasons for every clinical symptom we see as veterinarians. Just because your friend’s dog had the same symptoms does not mean that the diagnosis will be the same. It is okay to share your concerns but then let us do what we were trained to do. That is putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and hopefully making the best decisions for you and your pet. Also, if you are antivaccine for any reason, remember that many of these infections can be deadly. Nothing is more tragic than being faced with a sick pet that if it had been vaccinated it would have prevented the disease. We strive to prevent disease, so we do not have to say an early goodbye to our patients. DO YOUR PART AND PREVENT DISEASES WITH PROPER VETERINARY CARE.
