L i b r a r y

Rabies:

Rabies is a disease that is transmitted from the bite of an infected animal. Any warm-blooded animal is capable of becoming rabid, but the bat is the primary carrier in the northwest. Signs of rabies include change in behavior (for domestic animals this usually means more aggressive, but wild animals may actually appear more docile), seizures, altered mental status, and any other neurologic signs. Rabies vaccine is given at 12-16 weeks of age, then again at 1 year, and then every year after that. The vaccine is very important due to the severity of the disease (it is always fatal), the fact that there is no cure and because of the public health implications (humans can also get rabies from the bite wound of an animal).

FVRCP (FVR=Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, C=Calicivirus, P=Panleukopenia virus):

This vaccine is given at 8,10,12,16 weeks of age and then yearly.

FVR (AKA Feline Herpesvirus):

This is a virus that is transmitted by aerosolization and in utero. It usually causes ocular and nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, sneezing, fever, and inappetance. There is a low mortality associated with this virus.

Feline Calicivirus:

This is a virus that is shed from oral and nasal secretions as well as feces and contaminated objects. It can cause nasal discharge, fever, pneumonia, oral ulcers, vomiting and diarrhea, and arthritis. There is also a low mortality associated with this virus.

Feline Panleukopenia (Feline "Parvovirus"):

This virus is shed in bodily excretions and secretions and can also be transmitted in utero. Clinical signs include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, neurologic signs, and a low white blood cell count.

Feline Leukemia (FeLV):

This vaccine is given at 8-12 weeks of age, is repeated in 3-4 weeks, and then yearly afterwards. It is typically only given to animals at risk of exposure to FeLV. The virus is spread via bite wounds, grooming or contact with infected cats. Thus, only cats exposed to infected cats (those that go outdoors or live with infected cats) are typically given the vaccine. Cats should be tested before the first vaccine is given. Those cats infected with FeLV may never show signs, may show signs when other illnesses weaken their systems or may be immuno-suppressed and be "poor-doers". Cats can also develop cancers secondary to the virus. There are no cures for the disease, but some treatments are thought to slow the progression of the disease.

The rest of the vaccines listed are not commonly given at LVH because of the low prevalence of the disease, concern about adverse reactions to the vaccines or the unproven efficacy of the vaccines. They are listed here to make you aware of them as further information regarding these vaccines are becoming available all the time.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP):

This is a virus that is a mutation of a relatively non-pathogenic Coronavirus. It can cause severe disease and can manifest as a fever, inappetance, weight loss, a distended abdomen, trouble breathing, ocular disease, neurologic signs and just not feeling well. It is not completely understood how the virus is spread from one cat to another, hence the difficulty in formulating a vaccine. Part of the disease process is an immune-mediated process and it is possible that by building up the cat's immune system to the disease by vaccinating it, we may actually be making the disease worse. The vaccine has also not proven to be very efficacious. The vaccine that is available is a dropper to put in the cats nose that is done yearly.

Chlamydia:

This is a bacterial disease that is transmitted by oronasal secretions. It can cause conjunctivitis, nasal secretions, and sneezing. It is an uncommon cause of upper respiratory problems in cats, and the vaccine is thought to be a common cause of vaccine reactions in cats.

Ringworm: