WELLNESS and VACCINES

Wellness Care Foundations

• Illnesses are easier to prevent than treat

• Prevention is for both the individual and the group

• Felines hide illness better than dogs

• 78% of dog owners seek preventative care/year (AVMA)

• 47% of cat owners seek preventative care/year (AVMA)

Canine Life Stages

Puppy - Birth to sexual maturity

Junior - 6-12 months

Adult - 1-7 years, stopped growing

Mature - 7+ years

Senior - Last ¼ of life expectancy

Geriatric - life expectancy, stay here till death

Feline Life Stages

Kitten - Birth to sexual maturity

Junior - 7 months to 2 years

Adult - 3-6 years, stopped growing

Mature - 7-10 years

Senior - 11-14 years

Geriatric - 15+ years

Puppy and Kitten/junior wellness

• Vet evaluation immediately upon acquistion

• Physical exam

• Spaying/Neutering at 4-6 months of age

  • Varies based on breed, size, and health

  • reduces health risks

• Wellness visits every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks old

  • Vaccines

  • Endo/Ecto Parasite treatment and prevention

  • Behavior/socialization

Adult dog/cat wellness exam

• Annual to semiannual visits

• Physical exam

• Metabolic panel for baseline values

• Dental care

  • Most need first dental prophylaxis between 3-5 years

  • Toy breeds and other individuals may need it sooner

• Parasite control

• Vaccines

Mature/Senior/Geriatric Wellness exam

• Semiannual visits

• Physical exam

• Metabolic panel to look for changes

• Behavior: Cognitive dysfunctions

• Nutrition: don’t need as many calories

• Parasite control 

• vaccines

Preventative Care

• Grooming

• Metabolic screening

• Nutrition

• Dental care

• Exercise

• Parasite control

• Vaccinations

• Fecal float

• Heartworm test

• Certain breeds are predisposed to certain diseases

Metabolic Screening

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• RBC, WBC, platelets

Chemistry

• Indicated organ function

Urinalysis

• helps evaluate renal health

Start screening between 3-5 years

• or before anesthetic event

May need to start sooner depending on individual diseases or issues

Dental Care

Begins in puppy/kittenhood

• Observe bite and eruption of adult teeth

• Deciduous teeth fall out

• Palate defect

Tooth brushing recommended as adult teeth erupt

Dental radiographs

Periodontal disease VERY common: 80-90% by age three

Importance of exercise

>50% of cats and dogs are overweight/obese in US

Shorter life span - as much as 2 years

Obesity linked to increases risk of disease

• Cancer

• Diabetes

• Heart disease

• Osteoarthritis

• Bladder Stones

• Anesthetic complications

• Hypertension

Canine Exercise

Minimum 30 minutes/day

Depends on age, health, and breed

Reduces behavior issues

Prevents increased BCS

Puppies: More energy = more play

Adults: Depends on breed

Seniors: Decreased energy levels, weaker joints

Feline Exercise

Crepuscular animals

Hands are not toys!

• Behavioral issues

Short sessions

• 15-20 minutes 2x/day

Avoid

• String, thread, twine (foreign body)

RER

Resting Energy Requirement - energy required for a healthy animal at rest

MER

Maintenance Energy Requirement - calories needed/day to maintain weight

Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recognizes 4 catergories

Growth, Maintenance, Gestation/Lactation, All life stages

Considering Nutrition

Dogs are omnivores

Cats are obligate carnivores

• NEED animal protein

Dog eating cat food?

• vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis

Cats eating dog food

• Deficiencies in Vit. A, Taurine, and fatty acids

Homemade diets

Hard to make nutritionally balanced

No scientifically-supported benefits

Why?

• Picky eaters

• Concerns over recalls

More expensive

Nutrition deficiency/excess can lead to: Malnutrition, Obesity, Muscle loss, Congestive heart failure, Vision loss, Skin problems, Weakened bones and joints

Raw Diets

Discouraged by American Veterinary Medical Association

Raw food more likely to be contaminated with:

• Salmonella spp. - severe diarrhea

• Listeria monocytogenes - mortality rate 20-30% in humans

• MDR Escherichia coli - diarrhea, vomiting

Public health risk

If client is feeding raw:

• Discourage allowing their dogs to lick their faces

• WEAR GLOVES when working with patient

3 things raw food are likely contaminated with

• Salmonella spp. - severe diarrhea

• Listeria monocytogenes - mortality rate 20-30% in humans

• MDR Escherichia coli - diarrhea, vomiting

Ectoparasites

Fleas, Ticks, Ear mites

Fleas

Lifecycle: 21-28 days

Females lay up to 50 eggs/day (2000 in a life time)

Difficult to treat homes

• Time consuming

• Can take months

Clinical signs: Scratching, hair loss, Anemia

MOST COMMON ectoparasite

Ticks

Carry many diseases

5 common species in US

4 life stages: Egg → Larva → Nymph → Adult

Ticks feed on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians

About 900 species of ticks

Common ticks

Deer tick, Lone Star tick, Rocky Mountain Wood tick, American Dog tick, Brown dog tick

Tick borne diseases

Lyme Disease:

• Bacterial infection

• Expanding red rash

• Deer tick

Tick paralysis

• Immune system reaction

• Component in tick saliva

• Neuromuscular/Respiratory

Ehrlicia

• Bacterial infection

• lone star and deer ticks

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

• Lone star and American dog tick

Babesia

• Blood parasite

• Flu-like symptoms

Ear Mites

Highly contagious!

Live on cats, dogs, rabbits, and ferrets

5 Life Stages

• 3 weeks from egg to adult

• Live for 2 months

• Entire lifecycle on host animal

SECOND most common ectoparasite

Zoonotic

Ectoparasites Preventatives

Many varieties to choose from

Comes in topical, oral, and collar

• recommend based on client preference

• Heartworm has an injectable version

Some have more coverage than others

NEVER use dog flea/tick products on cats

Can happened in cats if given dog flea/tick product

Pyrethrin Toxicity

Heartworm disease

Transmitted via mosquitos

6-month life cycle from larva to adult

Advanced = caval syndrome

Clinical signs

• Appear when disease is advanced

• Lethargy

• Coughing

• Anemia

• Ascites

• Damage to heart and lungs

Helminth Parasites

“Worms”

Many zoonotic

Dangerous for young animals/people

Can cause issues with:

• Respiratory system

• Integumentary system

• Neurological system

• Circulatory

Prevention:

• Deworm pets regularly

• Control fleas

• Perform fecal floats

• Feed cooked food

• remove/dispose of feces

Diagnosed with fecal float

Tapeworms

Large, flat, segmented worm

Larval fleas eat tapeworm eggs

Dipylidium caninum - dog/cat tapeworm

• Zoonotic

Taenia psisiformis - rabbit tapeworm

• Not zoonotic

Worldwide distribution

Clinical Signs: Weight loss, Dull hair coat, Scooting

Whipworms

Trichuris Vulpis - dog

T. Campanula, T. serrata - cat

• Uncommon

Species specific - above not zoontic

Ingest blood from cecum

Clinical signs:

• Mucoid diarrhea

• Weakness

• Dehydration

Roundworms

Zoonotic!

Toxocara sp. (ascarids)

Life cycle from 14-80 days

• Depends on species

• Live for 4 months

Primarily causes disease in puppies

Transmission

• Ingestion of eggs from environment

• Trans-mammary

• In-utero

Live in the intestine

Hookworms

Zoonotic!

Ancylostoma sp. 

Live in intestine

Feed on blood

• causes anemia

Transmission via: 

• ingesting eggs

• Trans-mammary/transplacental

• Grooming feet

Treatment of Helminths

PREVENTION!

Prophylactic deworming recommended

Medications

• Many options

• Most common

  • Pyrantel 

  • Praziquantel

  • Fenbendazole

Protozoal Parasites

Single celled-organisms

Common diseases caused by:

• Coccidia

• Giardia

BOTH are zoonotic

Both live in the intestines 

Treat with anti-protozoal meds

Coccidia

Most common genus is Isospora

• Four infect dogs

• Two infect cats

Sexual and asexual reproduction

Species specific

Transmission Via:

• Feces

SEVERE diarrhea

Mostly effects puppies and immunocompromised adults

Giardia

6 distinct species

Found in contaminated

• Water

• Soil

• Food

• Feces

Worldwide, children <5 years over-represented

Clinical Signs:

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Abdominal pain

• Malabsorption of nutrients

Vaccinations

Stimulates body’s response against disease

Build resistance to specific infections

Improves immune system

Safe and effective

Preventative healthcare

Encourages veterinary-client relationship

Antigen

Killed or weakened form of virus or bacteria. Trains the immune system to recognize and fight a pathogen

Adjuvants

Helps boost the body’s immune response to an antigen

Preservatives

ensures vaccine stays safe

Stabilizaers

Protects vaccine during transport

What’s in a Vaccine?

All ingredients of a vaccine play an important role in ensuring a vaccine is safe and effective. 

Antigen, Adjuvants, Preservatives, Stabilizers

Are Vaccines Necessary

Yes! Prevention is always better than treatment

Much cheaper to vaccinate than treat

Benefits outweigh risks

Protects people and other animals

Rabies required BY LAW!

Not always 100% effective

Types of Vaccines

Attenuated (live, modified live, live attenuated)

Inactivated (killed)

Recombinant (Polysaccharide, conjugate, viral-vectored)

Toxoid

Attenuated vaccine

Long duration of immunity

More likely to prevent both infection and disease

Requires careful storage and handling

• Refrigeration

• Administer promptly after reconstitution

EXAMPLES: most canine distemper viruses, parainfluenza, parvovirus, adenovirus-2

Inactivated vaccine

Stable products that cannot induce disease

Shorter duration of immunity than attenuated

Require an adjuvant to induce sufficient immunity

May require more frequent dosing

May be associated with adverse reactions

Protects against disease, but no infection

EXAMPLE: rabies, influenza, lyme, some Lepto, parenteral bordatella vaccines

Recombinant vaccine

Laboratory-made vaccines

Uses the gene of a pathogen inserted into a virus, bacterial plasmid, single protein alone or with antigens

Antigens are purified and used as active ingredient in vaccine

Significant variability in terms of immunity and frequency of booster doses

EXAMPLES: canarypox virus-vectored canine distemper, some lyme vaccines

Toxoid Vaccines

Creates immunity to the toxin produced by the organism rather than the organism itself

Shortest duration of immunity of all vaccines

Do not prevent infection

EXAMPLES: Western diamond back rattlesnake toxoid, tetanus toxoid

Canine CORE vaccines

DHPP

Canine distemper, Infectious hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis (new in 2024), rabies

Canine Distemper

• Caused by paramyxovirus (closely related to measles)

• Highly contagious and potentially lethal

• Spread through:
  o Direct contact with infected animal or object
  o Airborne exposure
  o Placenta

•  Two stages

• All dogs at risk, especially unvaccinated puppies <4 months old

•  Raccoons, foxes, skunks, wolves, coyotes

• Not zoonotic

• No cure, treat symptomatically

Infectious Hepatitis

• Infectious Hepatitis

• Caused by an adenovirus

• Spread via consumption of infected:
  o Nasal discharge
  o Saliva
  o Urine
  o Feces

• Targets liver, spleen, lung, kidneys, and intravascular space

• Can be caused by accumulation of copper

• Not zoonotic

Parvovirus

• EXTREMELY contagious (full isolation mandatory)

• Unvaccinated dogs and puppies at high risk

• Transmitted via infected feces but can live in the environment for extended periods

• Breeds at higher risk:
  ◦ Rottweilers, pitbulls, dobermans, GSDs, English Springer Spaniel

• Clinical signs:
  ◦ Vomiting, hemorrhagic diarrhea, hypotension

Parainfluenza

•  Highly contagious viral lung infection

• Component of canine infectious respiratory complex

• Shares similarities with distemper

• Excreted from respiratory tract

• Unrelated to canine influenza

• Most common pathogenic agent of tracheobronchitis

Leptospirosis

• Caused by spriochete bacteria Leptospira

• Zoonotic! Barrier Isolation!
  o Contain urine in collection system if possible

• Found in soil and water
  o Common in areas with high annual rain fall

• 4 common strains
  o Leptospira canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona, L. grippotyphosa

• Leads to kidney and liver failure

• Antibiotics and supportive care

Rabies

• FATAL viral infection affecting the CNS

• Caused by both rabies virus and lyssavirus

• Spread through:
  o Saliva, scratches, direct contact with mucosa

• Two stages
  o Furious (encephalitic)
  o Paralytic

• Zoonotic
  o 59k people/year

Canine Non-Core Vaccines

Lyme, Bordatella, Canine influenza, Toxoids depend on environment

Lyme

• Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria

• Transmitted via ticks
  o Most commonly deer tick in midwest
  o Different species globally – not all carry lyme

• Zoonotic!

• Treated with antibiotics

• Common clinical signs:
  o Painful/swollen joints
  o Mild fever
  o Hyporexia

Bordatella

• Bordatella bronchiceptica – HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!

•  Spreads through:
  o Direct contact (licking, nuzzling)
  o Air
  o Contaminated fomites (you)

• Component of canine infectious respiratory complex

• Common in dogs in daycare, boarding, etc.

• Clinical signs:
  o Lethargy, mild fever, cough

Canine Influenza

• Caused by viral influenza virus –
  Type A
  o H3N8 and H3N2

• Highly contagious

• Very similar to parainfluenza

• Component of canine infectious respiratory complex

• Transmitted via:
  o Direct contact, coughing, fomites

• Treatment is supportive care

Canine Vaccine Schedule

Feline CORE Vaccines

FVRCP

• Feline viral rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, panleukopenia

Rabies

FeLV (in some cases)

Rhinotracheitis

• Highly contagious – barrier isolation!

• Caused by herpesvirus type-1

• Called "cat flu/URI/herpes"

• Usually not serious except in kittens

• Can lead to respiratory compromise

• Very common

• Component of feline respiratory disease complex

Calicvirus

• Highly contagious – barrier isolation!

• Caused by a virus in the Caliciviridae family

• Similar to rhinotracheitis
  o Oral ulceration common

• Transmitted via aersol droplets and fomites

• Component of feline respiratory disease complex

Panleukopenia

• Caused by a parvovirus

• Highly contagious – often fatal

• Kittens are most commonly affected

• Transmitted through:
  o Infected feces, respiratory secretions, and fomites

• Roaming animals at higher risk of exposure

FeLV

• Feline Leukemia Virus caused by a retrovirus

• ONLY a core vaccine for kittens <1 year and outdoor cats

• Transmitted via saliva and nasal secretions

• Most common infectious disease in cats

• Clinical signs:
  o Anorexia, weight loss, poor coat condition, fever, diarrhea, gingivitis, seizures

• Weakens immune system, but some cats become immune

• Cats can live normal lives

No Vaccine FIV

• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus - "Kitty aids"

• Retroviral infection

• Transmitted via bite wounds from infected cat
  - Commonly seen in intact males with outdoor access

• No cure, but average lifespan
  o If they don't also have FeLV

• Found worldwide

FIV

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline Vaccine Schedule

Vaccine Reactions

Can happen to any animal

Most Common: 

• Hyperthermia

• Hives

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Lethargy

• Tenderness

• Pain at injection site

Can become an emergency!

Anaphalaxis may occur

Group at greatest risk

• Small breed young adults (1-3 years old)

Most reactions occur the same day