Q: Our vet told us that our dog only needs distemper and parvo vaccinations every three years. This is different than what we’re used to. We always went in every year for distemper and parvo shots. What have you heard about this? Will Flip be safe with these new vaccines?
A: Vaccination protocols have changed quite a bit during the past year or two, leaving people to ask about the efficacy and safety of these new innoculations. Why would we change vaccines when they already work so well to prevent diseases?
It’s a simple question that has a simple answer – veterinarians want to avoid vaccine-related risks as much as possible. The bottom line is that these new vaccinations are proven more effective, so they don’t need to be given nearly as often.
Vaccines stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to protect against disease. They’re tested extensively before being given formal approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Even so, there are some risks for problems with all injections. Occasionally, a vaccinated dog’s immune system might mistakenly produce extra antibodies against his own red blood cells or platelets. In rare instances, he might develop a dangerous anemia. The risks are extremely low, but they exist with every shot a dog receives.
Most distemper and parvovirus vaccines are approved by the FDA only for use every single year. The vaccines’ ability to prevent these diseases is questionable if they’re used every three years. Until recently, vets have given annual boosters. Now there’s a new distemper and parvo vaccine that has earned FDA approval for use every three years, and many vets are starting to use it. It guarantees that your dog will be protected with only one shot every three years. Fewer injections mean fewer risks.
You should make sure Flip is innoculated with this FDA-approved three-year vaccine. He doesn’t need annual boosters for distemper or parvovirus anymore. And by the way, this new vaccine requires only two innoculations for new puppies instead of the customary three or four that we’ve administered in the past.
That’s big news! Dogs now need fewer vaccinations throughout their lifetime. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Q: With the new three-year vaccines, will our dog still need to go to the vet for an annual visit every year?
A:Â Absolutely. Annual examinations are essential to the good health of dogs and cats. Think of it this way: Many people equate seven human years to every single year of a dog or cat’s life. If we use that logic, then annual examinations for pets are the same as seven-year examinations for you and me.
Most of us would never wait seven years between doctor visits for ourselves. Too many things can happen in that much time. Why would we treat our pets any differently? You should schedule annual visits for your furry friends and be prepared to ask questions about your pet’s health. Have his heart checked, his teeth evaluated for gingivitis and tartar, and his eyes looked over for changes. Get a complete “under the hood” tune-up. That way, you’ll know your furry friend can live longer and healthier.
Besides all this, remember that the new three-year vaccine protocol is only for distemper and parvovirus. Vaccines for kennel cough (bordetella) and lyme disease still require annual boosters for full protection.
There’s no doubt that annual checkups are still the right thing to do for your pet.
Q: Our new puppy, Skirmish, seems to dream a lot. He even moves his feet and eyes and sometimes whimpers in his sleep. A friend told us that this could be a sign of seizures. He said that dogs that have epilepsy do this. Is that true?
A: I doubt little Skirmish has epilepsy. It’s very normal for puppies and kittens to move in their sleep. This “sleepwalking” is harmless and simply indicates a lot of brain activity that’s occurring while he’s asleep. Healthy dogs and cats of all ages sometimes do this.
Seizures and epilepsy are caused by irregular brain activity. Uncoordinated nerve impulses stimulate muscle activity that can manifest itself in many different ways. And while it’s true that seizures can occur when a patient is sleeping, the symptoms are quite a bit different than what you see with Skirmish.
It sounds to me as though your little guy is dreaming about a special toy he likes to chase across the floor – a pretty normal dream for an active puppy.
Q: We recently adopted a cat from the shelter. Huckster is about 7 years old and is a wonderful couch companion. But I wonder if he has a problem with his breathing. When he sleeps, he wheezes loud enough I can hear him across the room. It almost sounds like he’s snoring. Should we worry about him?
A: It’s unlikely Huckster has a problem. Lots of kitty-cats snore softly when they sleep (our own Rumpy the Cat can be heard from across the room when he’s in deep slumber). But let’s ask a few questions here. Do you ever hear this noise when Huckster is just resting (but still awake) on the couch? Does he ever wheeze when he plays with any toys? More important, does he get exhausted or short of breath when he’s playing?
If he only makes these sounds when he’s asleep, and he’s an otherwise normal kitty that never seems to tire of playing with a good toy, you have no worries. Besides everything else, the veterinarian at the shelter probably gave him a good physical exam before you adopted him. Any serious health problems likely would have been found at that time, before you brought him home.
Should you worry? Probably not. But to be on the safe side, have your vet listen to Huckster’s heart and lungs just to make sure he’s free of any problems. I’ll bet everything is fine, and Huckster can help you relax on the couch for many years.
