Vaccinating Cats and Small Dogs: A Special Danger

A Purdue University vet school study (by Moore et al), published in 2005 in the AVMA Journal and widely-cited elsewhere (see AAHA Guidelines p. 22), tracked vaccine reactions occurring within 72 hours of vaccination for 1.2 million dogs vaccinated at 360 veterinary hospitals. It showed that small breed dogs receiving multiple vaccines per office visit were at greatest risk of a vaccine reaction. The report recommends: These factors should be considered in risk assessment and risk communication with clients regarding vaccination.

“The VAAE [reaction] rate decreased significantly as body weight increased. Risk was 27% to 38% greater for neutered versus sexually intact dogs and 35% to 64% greater for dogs approximately 1 to 3 years old versus 2 to 9 months old. The risk of a VAAE significantly increased as the number of vaccine doses administered per office visit increased; each additional vaccine significantly increased risk of an adverse event by 27% in dogs ≤ 10 kg (22 lb) and 12% in dogs > 10 kg.”  (Find the article: JAVMA, Vol 227, No. 7, October 1, 2005) Ask your vet to find the article at http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2005.227.1102?journalCode=javma 

Note too: In the WSASA Guidelines Q & A: Are certain vaccines or combinations of vaccines more likely to cause adverse reactions than others? Yes. Although the development of an adverse reaction is often dependent on the genetics of the animal (e.g. small breed dogs or families of dogs), certain vaccines have a higher likelihood of producing adverse reactions, especially reactions caused by Type I hypersensitivity. For example, bacterins (killed bacterial vaccines), such as Leptospira, Bordetella, Borrelia (Lyme) and Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) are more likely to cause these adverse reactions than MLV viral vaccines.

Breeds Most at Risk Listed in Order (for breeds with more than 5000 dogs studied)

Dachshund  (by far the most reactive)
Pug 
Boston Terrier 
Miniature Pinscher
Chihuahua 
Maltese 
Miniature Schnauzer 
Jack Russell Terrier 
Toy Poodle 
Yorkshire
Terrier
Boxer 
Pomeranian
Pekingese 
Shih Tzu 
English Bulldog 
Lhasa Apso
Weimaraner 
Beagle 
Bichon Frise 
American Eskimo Dog 
American Cocker Spaniel
Shetland Sheepdog 
Shar Pei 
Miniature Poodle
Golden Retriever 
Basset Hound 
Welsh Corgi 
Siberian Husky
Great Dane 
West Highland White Terrier
Labrador Retriever 
Doberman Pinscher 
American Pit Bull Terrier 
Akita 
Mixed 
Australian Shepherd 
Dalmatian 
Australian Cattle Dog
Border Collie
Collie 
Chow Chow
German Shepherd Dog
Rottweiler

Read the study abstract for dogs.

Read the study abstract for cats: Adverse events after vaccine administration in cats: 2,560 cases (2002-2005).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although overall VAAE rates were low, young adult neutered cats that received multiple vaccines per office visit were at the greatest risk of a VAAE within 30 days after vaccination. Veterinarians should incorporate these findings into risk communications and limit the number of vaccinations administered concurrently to cats.  

Articles of Interest

Vaccinating Small Dogs: Risks Vets Aren’t Revealing          

Short video and article on vaccine reactions

Study about  increased hospitalization and deaths in children receiving multiple vaccines 

 

 

Tags: boston terrier, cats, chihuahua, combo shots, dachshund, little dog, Maltese, miniature pinscher, poodle, Pug, shih tzu, shots, small dog, small dogs, terrier, toy dog, toys vaccine reactions, vaccination, yorkie

Vaccinations for Dogs and Cats

Vaccinations for Dogs and Cats

Vaccines have been around for a long time. The term “vaccine” comes from the Latin word “vacca” which means cow. It was discovered that cowpox virus protected people from small pox infections. The first experimental vaccine was taking cowpox pustules and rubbing them onto people to prevent small pox.Boy have we come a long way in preventing diseases. When it comes to vaccinating our pets, there has to be several considerations taken into account.

1. Is the disease endemic or epidemic in the pet’s area? Is the disease prevalent?


2. How is the disease transmitted?


3. Is the vaccine safe? Are there any side effects?


4. What is the efficacy of the vaccine? Are most vaccinated pets protected after the vaccine?


5. How dangerous is the disease?


6. How is the vaccine administered?


7. What is the frequency for boosters?

This is basically called a risk assessment. Each pet has their own unique environment and considerations. There is a big difference between a pet that lives completely indoors versus a pet that lives outdoors all the time. There is a difference between the multi-pet households and the single pet households. The pets that go to grooming, boarding, day care, or shows have a higher exposure to diseases. Pets in shelters probably have the highest risk of all. All the circumstances must be taken into consideration.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, and American Association of Feline Practitioners have vaccine recommendations. The vaccines are broken down into core and noncore.

Dog core vaccinations are canine distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. The noncore canine vaccines are leptospirosis, giardia, cornavirus, bordetella, and Lyme’s.

Cat core vaccinations are panleukopenia (distemper), feline viral respiratory disease complex (rhinotracheitis and calicivirus), and rabies. The noncore vaccines for cats are feline leukemia, feline immunodificiency virus, chlamydia, and bordetella,

The core vaccinations are for all pets, no matter their living circomstances. The noncore vaccines require a risk assessment. For example, canine bordetella vaccine is highly recommend for grooming, boarding, show, and/or shelters situations. Feline leukemia vaccine is highly recommended for outside cats and catteries.

In summary, pet vaccines have been around for many years. I have vaccinated many pets since 1979. And I have had some reactions with vaccines. I have also seen a lot of disease during that time that could have been prevented. I’ll take the low probability of a vaccine problems versus the diseases they prevent anytime. Talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s risk.

Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations required for dogs and cats; penalty

Excerpt from the Virginia Code:

§ 3.2-6510. Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations required for dogs and cats; penalty.

A. No person shall sell, raffle, give away, or offer for sale as pets or novelties, or offer or give as a prize, premium, or advertising device any living chicks, ducklings, or other fowl under two months old in quantities of less than six or any unweaned mammalian companion animal or any dog or cat under the age of seven weeks without its dam or queen. Dealers may offer immature fowl, unweaned mammalian companion animals, dogs or cats under the age of seven weeks for sale as pets or novelties with the requirement that prospective owners take possession of the animals only after fowl have reached two months of age, mammalian companion animals have been weaned, and dogs and cats are at least seven weeks of age. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sale, gift, or transfer of an unweaned animal: (i) as food for other animals; (ii) with the lactating dam or queen or a lactating surrogate dam or queen that has accepted the animal; (iii) due to a concern for the health or safety of the unweaned animal; or (iv) to animal control, an animal shelter, or a veterinarian.

B. Dealers shall provide all dogs and cats with current vaccinations against contagious and infectious diseases, as recommended in writing and considered appropriate for the animal’s age and breed by a licensed veterinarian, or pursuant to written recommendations provided by the manufacturer of such vaccines at least five days before any new owner takes possession of the animal. For dogs, the vaccinations required by this subsection shall include at a minimum canine distemper, adenovirus type II parainfluenza, and parvovirus. For cats, the vaccinations required by this subsection shall include at a minimum rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Dealers shall provide the new owner with the dog’s or cat’s immunization history.
C. A violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

(1984, c. 492, § 29-213.40; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.70; 1993, c. 174; 1995, c. 625; 2006, c. 503; 2008, c. 860.)

As usual, every law has a list of exceptions.  Consult with a Virginia attorney before taking any action. 

Tucker Griffin Barnes – Where deep insight equals powerful advantage.

Tucker Griffin Barnes P.C.

Charlottesville, Virginia

434-973-7474

Inquire@TGBlaw.com

http://www.tgblaw.com/

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube