Vaccinations

Vaccinations

“To vaccinate or not to vaccinate… That is the question!”

Recently, there has been much debate, fueled primarily by the media, regarding yearly vaccinations of pets. The media, as well as other non-veterinary groups, are asserting that veterinarians are over vaccinating pets in this country. This month’s article will look at this important issue and try to shed some light on this controversial subject.
It is uncertain why or when the veterinary experts at the time decided that yearly vaccinations were the best protocol. Maybe, 50 years ago when supposingly this began, veterinarians extrapolated from human vaccine protocols and continue their recommendations today. I recently attended a large vaccination symposium discussing these issues to determine are vaccinations necessary and do they pose a health hazard to the pet or human.
Major points of the meeting looked at current human protocols compared to veterinary medicine and detrimental health issues to pets and humans as a result of vaccinating or not vaccinating yearly.
I do not have any children, so I have no concept of what vaccines babies/kid/teenagers receive. Experts at the symposium presented a slide from the American Board of Pediatrics regarding their current vaccination protocol for babies in their first year or so of life. It was amazing! According to the protocol, vaccines are given every week for several months. This differs from veterinary medicine in that vaccines are started at 8 weeks of age and done every 3 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then recommended yearly. The program expert calculated a several fold increase in the number of diseases babies are vaccinated against in the first year compared to dogs/cats. Many diseases in children have not been seen in decades, but why do kids still receive vaccines for them? The answer to the question is with a question… would you rather your child get a potential deadly disease or would you rather have them vaccinated prophylacticaly? Most pediatricians have never seen some of the diseases they vaccinate for and would never see them unless visiting a third world country. The same holds true for our pet friends, except, I personally have seen all the diseases I vaccinate yearly for in the past 8 years. Some of these diseases I see every month such as Aids, Leukemia, Hepatitis. Recent research has shown that adverse effects attributed to vaccines themselves cannot be substantiated. Some people ask me to run a blood test on their pet instead of vaccinating to determine if their vaccine level is high enough to protect against disease. If every pet were exactly the same with the exact same immune status, blood tests may be useful. In other words, a flu shot may protect me, but not you since our bodies require different amounts of vaccine for protection.
Current recommendations by immunologists, veterinary colleges and vaccine researchers is to continue with yearly vaccines for Rabies/Distemper and twice yearly for Bordetella in dogs and once yearly vaccines in cats. I guess the old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may apply to disease prevention and vaccine protocols.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding this month’s health article, please feel free to call the office.

Canine Heartworm Disease

Canine Heartworm Disease

The Southern states rank first in the nation for heartworm infection (Dirofilaria Immitis). Florida is first among the southern states and therefore first in the nation for this deadly disease.
The mosquito transmits heartworm disease. This occurs by a mosquito obtaining a blood meal from an infected dog and then injecting the larvae in a non infected animal. Over a 6 month period, the larvae develop into adult heartworms and reside in the right side of the heart and vessels leading to the lungs. Adult heartworms begin to produce microfilaria (baby heartworms) which will also develop into adults in about 4 to 6 months. If the infection is allowed to continue, the dog will die from right sided heart failure or a complication thereof.
Diagnosis is quick and easy. The American Heartworm Association recommends an antigen (occult) heartworm test be performed once to twice yearly depending on location and incidence of heartworm disease. The antigen (occult) tests for adult heartworm protein in the patient’s blood. It takes 10 minutes and is virtually 100% specific. Ninety-nine percent of dogs with mature heartworm infection are antigen positive (have an infection). It is imperative your pet be tested at least yearly for heartworms even if you are diligent about giving prevention once monthly. Giving an infected pet heartworm prevention can be lethal and I have seen it occur throughout my career.
There are several heartworm preventatives on the market. Two products we carry are Heartgaurd Plus (Ivermectin/Pyrantel) and Revolution (Selamectin). Heartgaurd is a once a month chewable preventative for heartworms and also intestinal parasites. It does not provide flea or tick prevention. Revolution is the newest product on the market and is applied once a month topically to the skin. It provides heartworm, intestinal parasite, flea, tick, ear mite and skin scabies protection. As with all preventatives however, nothing is 100% effective and is why testing is necessary at least yearly.
We treat 5 to 6 cases a year for heartworm disease costing the owners $400 to $600 per case. Not only is it much less expensive to use a preventative, but also obviously better for your pet. If you have any questions regarding heartworm disease or prevention, feel free to contact the office.