Each year your beloved canine pet should come into see us for a physical examination and core vaccinations. The physical examination is done annually in order for us to get an idea of overall health of your pet each year. In addition, it is required by Oregon law for us to do an exam before any medication or vaccination is prescribed. The core vaccines we recommend are DA2PP+CV and Leptospirosis. Rabies is also included but this was discussed last month (still if you have any questions about that one, don't hesitate to call).
DA2PP+CV stands for Distemper, Adenovirus-2, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Coronavirus. This is what is considered a combination vaccination and includes protection against 6 pathogens. It is given subcutaneously and done once a year in adults. In puppies we usually do a series of 3. Now I'll break down what each one is.
Distemper: This is a viral disease that usually affects dogs from 3-6 months of age, though it may occur in a dog of any age. A key point is that it can be carried by wild animals such as foxes, raccoon and coyotes. The disease is most of the time spread by air (ie. an infected animal coughs or sneezes on another animal, object, floor etc) although it can be spread other ways. An infected animal will usually be "infectious" after the 7th day of exposure and can shed the virus up to 90 days. Clinical signs vary from gastrointestinal signs (diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy) to disorders with the central nervous system (ie. brain-->tremors, seizures). It can also cause problems with the animal's eyes and skin (classically hard stiff paw pads). The virus is deadly so prevention is the best.
Adenovirus-2: Although it seems like one virus, Adenovirus-2 actually protects against Adenovirus-1 as well. Adenovirus 1 is involved in causing hepatitis (liver disease) in dogs and Adenovirus 2 is often a culprit in the complex disease known as "kennel cough". Adenovirus can be spread in urine, feces and saliva. It can also be carried by wildlife like foxes, wolves, coyotes. Clinical signs usually start as inappetance, fever, excessive thirst and corneal opacities (spots on the eyes). This is another deadly virus.
Parainfluenza: Different from influenza (the flu), this is a respiratory virus also sometimes involved in the complex known as "kennel cough". The virus can be shed via aerosolized droplets from infected dogs for up to 2 weeks after infection. Most infections occur in areas where many dogs are confined in close quarters (ie. Kennel facilities, doggie day care).
Parvovirus: A lot of people know parvovirus as a nasty puppyhood disease. Parvovirus is a virus that infects the intestinal crypts of the intestines. It causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract leading to profuse bloody diarrhea, inappetance, fever and vomiting. If the animal is not given treatment it can often result in sepsis (infection of the blood) and eventual death. The virus is incredibly hardy and can last in the environment (ie. sand, grass) for more than 7 months! This is why we are so adamant on making sure your puppy is fully vaccinated before any trips to the dog park, beach, etc.
Coronavirus: Coronavirus is similar to parvovirus in that it infects the gastrointestinal tract and is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. It can cause diarrhea (sometimes bloody), inappetance, vomiting and fever. Usually not as severe as parvovirus, but can often accompany parvovirus and turn out to be very serious. Infected animals can shed the virus 6-9 days.
So those are the important points of one of the vaccinations we do each year for your pup. We now also recommend Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can cause liver and kidney failure after infection. It is carried by wildlife (rodents, deer, opossums, raccoon) and shed via urine usually into ponds, streams or puddles of water. I would say a majority of our dogs LOVE drinking dirty, stinky water while on hikes or walks, which is why we recommend this vaccine to all our canine patients. In the past, the Leptospirosis vaccine was associated with allergic reactions in some dogs. The vaccine we use now has been improved and the rate of allergic reaction due to the vaccine has gone down quite a bit. When it does happen is generally not a big concern. Most of the time a little diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is all that is needed to relieve the reaction.
To sum it up, we vaccinate against the most serious diseases that can potentially infect our dogs. These diseases can all be deadly, which is why it's so important to stay up to date on prevention measures. In general, like any medication side effects are possible but rare. If you have any questions please feel free to write or call. Thanks for reading!
-Dr. C
From: https://www.pinterest.com/LLUSPH/humor-in-public-health/
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