By Dr. Johnathan Pierce
WHY DO WE VACCINATE?
Sometimes it can seem like doctors recommend things that may not be necessary, however, this is far from the case. As scientists, we base our approach based on not only scientific data but also personal experiences with patients that have presented with certain diseases. Vaccinations fall under this category.
Most of us veterinarians have treated Parvo in patients with varying degrees of severity. Many have lost patients from the disease, but most of the patients with symptoms are treatable especially with the advent of monoclonal antibody therapy. This is a disease that is highly preventable with vaccination and hence the reason that we have this in our core vaccination protocol.
Distemper virus is typically included in the vaccine that we use to prevent Parvo. This virus causes severe coughing, pneumonia and/or neurological symptoms like depression, stumbling and seizures. There is only symptomatic treatment and there is a high mortality rate with infections. It is a highly contagious disease that is preventable with vaccination.
We recently had an outbreak of canine distemper in the raccoon population at the Fort DeSoto campgrounds. This runs a course every 5-7 years in wild populations and can be carried by wild canine populations like foxes and coyotes. Vaccination is extremely effective at preventing disease in our canine pets.
Last but not least is rabies virus. Talk about a severe disease process. Most everyone knows the classical symptoms of aggressive behavior, “foaming at the mouth,” stumbling, dazed appearance, and death. This disease poses a significant public health concern and a severe threat to us as humans as well as to our pets. We have been able to reduce the cases that we have seen through vaccination of our pets but also through wildlife vaccination in our more endemic areas. In northeast Ohio, for example, air drops of rabies vaccination prevent the spread. Raccoons and other wildlife ingest the vaccine and it provides immunity to prevent the spread of rabies from the neighboring state of Pennsylvania and vice versa.
Indoor pets are not immune to the threat. Although being indoors does reduce the likelihood of contact with an infected wild animal, it does not eliminate it. Bats, raccoons, bobcats, and other such wild animals have been known to make it indoors and spread disease.
There are many more diseases that we vaccinate for but overall, modern vaccines are a safe and effective means to prevent disease. Please make sure to keep your pets vaccinated and up to date on their boosters.
Island Life Animal Hospital
Dr. Danielle Gallo & Dr. Johnathan Pierce
5901 Sun Blvd., Suite 107
Saint Petersburg, FL 33715
727-289-3776 • islandlifeanimalhospital.vet