Our domestic animals need more than just food, water, shelter and love to thrive. There are many bacteria and viruses that can attack dogs and cats, and make them very sick, so preventative medicine – vaccination – is necessary to protect them against these deadly pathogens and the diseases they cause. Vaccination is not only important for the individual animal and maintaining the health of pets, but it’s also recommended for herd immunity – if deadly diseases don’t have a host to attack, they can be eliminated from the population altogether. Over the course of time, vaccinations have facilitated the reduction in many canine and feline diseases, but these diseases have not been completely eliminated. They still pose a threat to unvaccinated and immunocompromised pets, which means that those pets who can get their shots, should.
This article is an exploration of pet vaccination – what it is, how vaccines work, the diseases they target, and when pets should get their vaccinations done. It will benefit every dog and cat owner to know this information.
How do pet vaccines work?
At six weeks old, all puppies and kittens should receive their first core vaccines, which start their protection against the most common of the deadly diseases they may be exposed to. These vaccines contain tiny parts of the disease-causing pathogens (viruses or bacteria), which trigger the immune system to generate antibodies to fight the pathogens – a defence they will need should they be exposed to the virus or bacteria later on.
With each subsequent vaccine or booster, more of the pathogen will be introduced into the pet’s system, fortifying the immune response. This will not prevent the dog or cat from being exposed to the pathogen – but rather, it prepares the pet’s body to fight harder against the virus or bacteria, giving them fewer symptoms and side effects compared to an unvaccinated pet. If the animal does end up contracting the disease, their symptoms won’t be as severe and they have a better chance of a full recovery.
Puppies and kittens will receive three initial vaccinations, after which they should get another shot in six months’ or one year’s time. Some vaccines will need a booster every year; others only every three years. The vet will not give your pet unnecessary boosters – each pet’s needs and location will be taken into consideration, and their risk for contracting different diseases determined, before the vet recommends a booster.
The purpose of vaccines is to prevent deadly diseases from causing severe illness, and from spreading through pet populations, especially because they have no cure. There are different vaccines for each disease, so the vet will guide your decision on which vaccines to give your pet based on your location and your pet’s lifestyle. They will consider how likely your pet is to being exposed to the various diseases. At the very least, all pets should be vaccinated with the core 5-in-1 for dogs or the 3-in-1 for cats, and the rabies vaccine.
The core 5-in-1 dog vaccination
A core vaccination protocol, the 5-in-1 for dogs is intended to shield puppies and dogs from these viruses and their corresponding diseases:
- Canine distemper
- Canine parvovirus (CPV)
- Canine adenovirus (infectious hepatitis)
- Canine adenovirus Type 2 (infectious tracheobronchitis or respiratory disease)
- Canine parainfluenza virus
1. Canine distemper
A highly infectious viral disease, canine distemper can affect whole populations of dogs simultaneously because it is so contagious. The virus is spread by inhalation, through the placenta from bitch to puppy, or from direct bodily contact with other dogs. The distemper virus is so deadly because it affects several body systems at the same time: respiratory tract, brain and spinal cord, GI tract, mucous membranes and the skin.
The symptoms of distemper can include:
- high fever
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- appetite loss
- difficulty breathing
- coughing
- nose and eye discharge
- eye inflammation
- thickened paw pads and nose
Once the virus has weakened the dog’s immune system, he will be vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections. If the disease progresses, it will attack the dog’s central nervous system and the symptoms of this can include:
- seizures
- paralysis
- head tilt
- muscle contractions/twitching
- lack of coordination
- repetitive eye movements
- death
If canine distemper is diagnosed early, the symptoms can be treated and the dog can recover, but keep in mind that the disease is incurable. Even after recovery, many dogs still experience side effects for months afterwards.
Canine parvovirus (CPV)
‘Parvo’ is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that targets the GI tract of unvaccinated dogs and vulnerable puppies. They can get parvo from direct contact with animals that are infected with the disease, or the objects that infected animals have been in contact with – such as food bowls, leashes and collars, and toys. They can even get it from people who have been in contact with an infected dog (but people themselves can’t get parvo). The symptoms of parvo will be congregated in or near the GI tract, but can extend into the lymph nodes, bone marrow and heart.
The symptoms of parvo can include:
- vomiting and bloody diarrhoea
- fever
- lethargy
- appetite loss
- dehydration
- weight loss
- secondary bacterial infection
There is no cure for parvo, so infected puppies will be treated supportively. Puppies with parvo can recover well if the disease is caught early enough, but owners must be mindful of the fact that puppies remain infectious for up to 10 days after their symptoms have resolved. Care must always be taken to ensure parvo puppies are quarantined or separated from healthy animals around them.
Canine adenovirus (CAV)
Canine adenovirus affects the liver and kidneys, causing infectious canine hepatitis. Dogs’ symptoms will be treated supportively and most dogs do recover, but in some cases it is fatal.
The symptoms of infectious canine hepatitis include:
- fever
- appetite loss
- painful abdomen
- coughing
- symptoms of jaundice (yellowed sclera, mouth and skin)
- vomiting
- bloody diarrhoea (in unvaccinated dogs)
Even after recovery with supportive treatment, the virus is still found in the dog’s urine for up to six months, so care must be taken to avoid other pets getting infected. Some dogs experience side effects from the disease for the rest of their lives, such as problems with their eyes or kidneys.
Canine adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2)
The structure of canine adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2) is similar to CAV, but it attacks the dog’s respiratory system, causing infectious tracheobronchitis (ITB). It is one of the viruses that cause the dry, hacking cough of kennel cough, but it can also target the GI tract and central nervous system.
Dogs with infectious tracheobronchitis may show the following symptoms:
- cough
- mucoid discharge
- lung infection
If supportive treatment is not pursued quickly enough, the respiratory symptoms can progress to bronchopneumonia, which can be fatal.
Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV)
The canine parainfluenza virus causes parainfluenza, which is a disease of the respiratory system. It’s one of the viruses (like CAV-2) responsible for the canine infectious respiratory disease complex that causes kennel cough, resulting in infectious tracheobronchitis and its related symptoms.
Symptoms of parainfluenza include:
- coughing (wet or dry, productive or non-productive)
- blood present in sputum
- nasal discharge
- fever
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
Dangerously, some dogs with CPIV won’t show any symptoms at all, but are still infectious, which proves the necessity of vaccination. Treatment of CPIV is supportive with prescribed medication, isolation and rest and care at home. Hospitalisation is seldom required and symptoms should take around two weeks to clear.
Non-core vaccination for dogs
While every dog should be vaccinated with the core 5-in-1, the vet may recommend some dogs – depending on their location and lifestyle – receive vaccination for leptospirosis and the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica (another contributor to kennel cough).
- Leptospirosis is an infection of the dog’s liver and kidneys, resulting in fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, muscle pain, weakness and loss of appetite. They can be infected by rodents. It’s a zoonotic disease, so humans can also get leptospirosis if they have contact with an infected dog’s urine. In subtropical climates with high humidity and in areas with lots of standing water, the vet may recommend the vaccine for this disease.
- Bordetella is a bacterial disease that forms part of the disease complex of kennel cough. If it’s not treated quickly, it can progress to pneumonia. Highly contagious, it spreads quickly through large populations of confined dogs. The vet may recommend the Bordatella vaccine for dogs that are frequent visitors to the dog park, or those that are boarded often. It’s also mandatory for dogs travelling overseas.
The core 3-in-1 cat vaccination
The core 3-in-1 cat vaccination protocol is intended to shield cats and kittens against:
- Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) (feline distemper; feline parvo)
- Feline calicivirus (FCV) (respiratory and oral infection)
- Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV) (herpesvirus infection or feline viral rhinotracheitis)
1. Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)
This disease is sometimes referred to by its canine counterparts – feline distemper or feline parvovirus – but feline panleukopenia is different to the canine diseases. FPV is contagious like distemper and specifically targets the feline GI tract.
FPV symptoms include:
- appetite loss
- lethargy
- vomiting
- bloody diarrhoea
- dehydration
- eye and nose discharge
FPV rapidly destroys white blood cells, limiting the immune system’s capacity to fight infection and rendering cats and kittens weak and unprotected. There is no cure for this disease and it’s deadly to young kittens with already underdeveloped immunity.
2. Feline calicivirus (FCV)
Targeting the upper respiratory tract, feline calicivirus is an infectious disease that is easily spread through sneezing and contact with infectious particles. Coughing and sneezing progress to pneumonia unless treated early.
Symptoms of calicivirus include:
- sneezing
- nasal congestion
- inflamed eyelids
- eye and nose discharge
- oral ulcers
- excessive salivation
- fever
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
- swollen lymph nodes
- painful joints/lameness
There is no cure for FCV, so treatment is supportive and can be done at home with prescription medications. Immediate treatment usually results in an uncomplicated recovery. If the pneumonia is severe, the cat may need hospitalisation.
3. Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV)
Another precursor to pneumonia, the feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV) – or feline rhinotracheitis virus – causes viral rhinotracheitis: fever and infection in the upper respiratory area. It is highly contagious and can be spread by direct and indirect contact with infected cats.
Symptoms of feline herpesvirus-1 can include:
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- conjunctivitis (feline pink eye)
- eye and nasal discharge
- ulcers in the mouth
- pneumonia
Cats are treated supportively, but FHV can stay in the cat’s system and be re-triggered during a stressful event, leading to infection again. There is no cure for FHV, so it’s vital that cats are vaccinated against it.
Many cats are outdoor wanderers, exposing themselves to viral infection through other cats and wild animals. The 3-in-1 core vaccination won’t prevent exposure to infection, but this protocol can reduce the severity of disease if your cat contracts any of these viruses.
Non-core vaccination for cats
The veterinarian will look at a cat’s location and lifestyle and may also recommend the vaccines for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV – or feline AIDS), Chlamydophila felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
FeLV is notable because of its attack on the cat’s immune system, which can lead to a number of other conditions (including cancer) and compromise the cat’s health across a number of different body systems. Even if a cat is infected with FeLV, it can live for a long time, but must not live with FeLV-free cats, for the obvious risk it poses. FeLV vaccination should be prioritised where many cats live in close quarters and have access to the outdoors.
Mandatory: Rabies vaccination
It is a legal requirement in South Africa that all pets are vaccinated against rabies. Learn more about this devastating disease in our rabies article here. Puppies and kittens must get their first rabies vaccine by the age of 12 weeks, receive a booster by 12 months, and then an annual or triennial booster must be administered for the rest of their lives. Rabies affects pets, but can also be transferred to humans – especially children – through animal bites.
When should pets be vaccinated?
For the first four to six weeks, puppies and kittens are immune-protected by antibodies from their mothers’ milk. From six weeks, however, they will need core and non-core vaccines.
- Core vaccines are given at six weeks, nine weeks, and 12 weeks. A booster is given at six months and/or one year of age. Every one to three years for the rest of their lives, core vaccine boosters are given as determined by the vet.
- Rabies vaccines are given at three months, 12 months, and every one to three years after that.
- Non-core vaccines are highly recommended in some instances, and should be given at six, nine and 12 weeks of age, then annually.
At your pet’s annual vet check-up, the vet will determine whether your pet is due for vaccination. This will be recorded in your pet’s vet card. Keep your pets safe and healthy with regular check-ups and vaccination.
