Birchwood Animal Hospital | 2595 Portage Avenue | Winnipeg, Manitoba | R3J 0P5 | (204) 832-1368 | Fax (204) 889-9708 birchwd@mts.net

Birchwood Animal Hospital News

Background  

We are presented with new medical information every day and, although much of it is simply filed away for reference with respect to a specific disease or drug, some of it has a much larger impact on day-to-day practice. This is the case with routine vaccinations. For many years it was unclear how long vaccines were good for, i.e. when did the immunity they provided wear off. In order to be as safe as possible we followed the manufacturer’s directions and re-vaccinated (“boostered”) annually.    

  A few years ago, however, it became clear from the research that rabies vaccines were in fact good for at least two years in dogs and three years in cats, so we changed our recommendations to reflect that.    

Now things are changing again. After several years of carefully studying the literature and listening to opinions from specialists we have come to the conclusion that it is safe and wise to now also reduce the frequency of some of the other vaccinations. The new recommendations are as follows:  

CATS

The routine panleukopenia (“distemper”) / upper respiratory virus combination vaccine used to be given annually to all cats, now we recommend one booster a year after the kitten vaccines and then regular boosters every two years after that. This applies to both indoor and outdoor cats.  

Outdoor cats should also receive leukemia and rabies vaccinations and the recommendations for frequency of boosters has not changed for those: every three years after two consecutive for rabies and every year for leukemia.

DOGS

The routine four way distemper –parvo –flu – hepatitis combination vaccine used to be given annually to all dogs of all ages, now we recommend that beginning at age nine this vaccine be given every two years, alternating with the rabies vaccine. The rabies recommendations have not changed: every two years after two consecutive years (ie as a puppy at four months of age, the next year and then every two years after that).  

Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine, to a large extent, is an individual owner's decision. If your dog is going to be boarded in a kennel, exposed to unfamiliar dogs or traveling, then the Bordetella vaccination is highly recommended. If your dog is not going to be in these situations then the risk of exposure is lower. 

IMPORTANT: You will still receive reminders for annual checkups and physical exams regardless of whether a vaccine is due or not. Cats and dogs age roughly five to six years for our every one, so much can and does change between annual visits. Also, they do not tend to give very many early warning signs of disease unless you know exactly what to look for and how to find it.

As time goes on veterinary medicine is becoming more and more like human medicine (in a good way!) and one area of convergence is in how we approach preventative health care. In the past the emphasis was on vaccinations because infectious diseases were among the biggest health threats to pets. Now, although these infectious diseases are still present, chronic internal conditions such as heart, liver and kidney disease have become far more common. Much as is the case in humans, we have done such a good job of controlling the infectious diseases that our pets are now living long enough to get these chronic internal problems. 

  Many of these diseases can be controlled and managed with greater success if detected before obvious symptoms develop. Although a “cure” may not always be realistic, our focus is on quality of life and we can often make a big difference there.

  Whereas vaccination is the key to addressing infectious disease, routine blood and urine screening is the best weapon we have against the diseases of age. Consequently, just like older humans who come to expect blood and urine tests with their check-ups rather than vaccinations, the same is increasingly true for older dogs and cats.

  Routine blood and urine screening also provides a baseline for more subtle long-term trends and helps to ensure that the pet is able to cope with any medications, anesthetics or procedures that may be necessary in the coming year.

  The following screens are recommended:

  Feline Senior Health Screen (for cats 9 years of age and older):

	A chemistry profile testing liver and kidney function as well as blood glucose and protein levels.
	A red and white blood cell count.
	A thyroid hormone level.

  Canine Senior Health Screen (dogs 9 years of age and older):

	A chemistry profile testing liver and kidney function as well as blood glucose and protein levels.
	A red and white blood cell count.
	A urinalysis, providing an additional perspective on internal organ function, as well as urinary tract health.

 Both screens cost $89.25 and results will generally be reported in 24 – 48 hours.

  In each case a small blood sample will be drawn while you wait. The canine geriatric screen also requires a urine sample that in some cases we will be able to collect here and in some cases we will ask you to collect one at home (we will tell you how) to be dropped off later at your convenience.