Cat & Dog Vaccinations

Function

• Vaccinations are designed to trigger an immune system response. The body is exposed to small bits of the viral DNA in a safe, controlled manner. When exposed to this virus again, the immune system recognizes it, making it easier and quicker for it to rally the body's defenses. Vaccines are administered to dogs and cats in one of three ways: injected into a muscle or under the skin or squirted into the nose, according to "The Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."

Types

• There are three basic types of vaccines, according to "Pathology and Parasitology for Veterinary Technicians." A live-virus vaccine contains parts of the virus that has not been weakened or altered in any way. A modified live-virus vaccine contains an attenuated strain of the virus, or viral material that has been weakened in a laboratory by repeatedly activating the viral material. An inactivated vaccine contains virulent material that was deactivated using a chemical, such as formaldehyde. Veterinarians tend to use live or modified-live virus vaccines, according to "The Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians." Vaccines that protect against more than one virus are called polyvalent or combination vaccines, while monovalent vaccines protect against only one virus.

Core Versus Elective

• Vaccinations that are helpful to some, but not most, cats and dogs are called elective vaccines. Vaccines that are highly recommended to prevent and protect against extremely contagious and dangerous illnesses, or vaccines mandated by law, are considered core vaccines, according to the "Clinical Veterinary Advisor." Rabies vaccines are mandated by law in some locations and are a core vaccination for both cats and dogs. Core vaccines for dogs, according to "The Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians," include canine distemper, hepatitis or adenovirus-2, parvovirus and parainfluenza. Core vaccines for cats include rabies, feline viral rhinotracheitis or herpes virus, feline calicivirus and panleukopenia, or feline parvovirus. A veterinarian is better able to determine which vaccines are needed based on the individual animal's needs.

Time Frame

• The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that veterinarians administer vaccinations in varying time frames based upon each individual animal's lifestyle. Puppies and kittens generally need to be vaccinated every two to three weeks until the age of 16 to 18 weeks. Adults should be vaccinated upon adoption. If an inactivated virus vaccine is used, a booster shot is administered two to four weeks after the initial vaccination. Vaccines need to be re-administered every one to three years, dependent upon the duration of immunity afforded by the vaccine, according to "The Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."

Considerations

• Indoor only cats and dogs are still at risk of contracting communicable diseases and still need vaccinations.
  Note that vaccinations do not always work. Sometimes manufacturers produce improperly formulated or faulty vaccines. Improper administration, including a lapse in immunity, is also a possible cause for vaccination failure. Different viruses have different strains, and the vaccine may not protect against every strain in existence. Other factors, such as individual health problems, may prevent full therapeutic immunity from happening, according to "Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff." Some animals develop allergic or adverse reactions to vaccines. In these instances, it is best to speak with a licensed veterinary medical professional.