
Your pet’s health extends beyond just the food they eat and the love and grooming they receive. In order for your furry friend to live a long and healthy life, they need an effective barrier against the disease-causing viruses and bacteria that they may come in contact with. As veterinarians we cannot emphasise enough the importance of preventative medicine, which – in your dog or cat’s case – means vaccinations.
Vaccination is important not only for your pet’s health and longevity, but also for the sake of herd immunity – getting rid of these deadly diseases from the population completely. Vaccination protocols have thus far reduced the prevalence of certain canine and feline viral diseases, but they do still occur and threaten the lives of those pets who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated.
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at why vaccination is encouraged, which diseases we vaccinate your pets against, and when to see the vet to get your pets vaccinated.
How do dog and cat vaccines work?
At the age of six weeks old, puppies and kittens should receive their first core vaccinations. These shots contain tiny pieces of the virus or bacterium that causes the disease, introducing them into the pet’s system to trigger their immune system to create antibodies to fight them. If the dog or cat is exposed to these viruses or bacteria later on in life, their immune system will naturally produce antibodies to fight back. Each time the puppy or kitten gets their next booster vaccine, their immune response against the pathogens gets stronger – their immune system needs to be built up over time for the best chance at resisting the disease.
This doesn’t mean that vaccinated dogs and cats will never be exposed to the viruses or bacteria, but that they have protection against disease if they are exposed to them. And, if they do get sick, the symptoms won’t be as severe and the disease won’t be as life-threatening and it would be in an unvaccinated pet.
Every year to every three years, all pets should receive booster vaccines to keep their immunity primed to fight specified diseases. Keep in mind that the vet will not recommend boosters unnecessarily – they will look at your pet’s location and lifestyle to determine whether your pet needs additional protection against likely infection in your area. All dogs should receive the core 5-in-1 vaccine and all cats should receive the core 3-in-1, as well as the mandatory rabies vaccine.
What’s in the core 5-in-1 for dogs?
There are five viral diseases against which all dogs need protection:
- Canine distemper
- Canine parvovirus (CPV)
- Canine adenovirus (infectious hepatitis)
- Canine adenovirus Type 2 (infectious tracheobronchitis or respiratory disease)
- Canine parainfluenza virus
1. Canine distemper
We’ve all seen the warnings against distemper outbreaks. Distemper is a very contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks multiple systems in the dog’s body at the same time: the respiratory tract, the GI tract, brain and spiral cord, as well as mucous membranes and 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
The virus also attacks the immune system and weakens the dog’s ability to fight back against secondary infections. If the distemper is not treated in time, it can reach the central nervous system and the dog will show symptoms of neurological disorder, including:
- seizures
- paralysis
- head tilt
- muscle contractions/twitching
- lack of coordination
- repetitive eye movements
- death
Even though canine distemper has no cure, the symptoms are treatable when the disease is diagnosed early enough. Even when a dog with distemper recovers, they may experience side effects for months after treatment.
Canine parvovirus (CPV)
Canine parvovirus or ‘parvo’ for short, is another terrible affliction in unvaccinated dogs. It’s very contagious and is especially dangerous to puppies. Infection is caused by direct contact with other dogs with parvo, as well as by any objects (toys, leashes, food bowls) or faeces of infected dogs. Someone who has been in contact with an infected dog can also transfer the disease to other animals. Parvo symptoms are usually present in the GI tract, but the disease can affect the heart, lymph nodes and bone marrow.
Parvo symptoms can include:
- vomiting and bloody diarrhoea
- fever
- lethargy
- appetite loss
- dehydration
- weight loss
- secondary bacterial infection
There is no cure for parvo, so puppies and dogs will be treated supportively. When the disease is caught early, puppies can recover well, but they can still be infectious to other puppies for up to 10 days after their symptoms have gone. Parvo puppies must always be quarantined after recovery to make sure they don’t infect others.
Canine adenovirus (CAV)
The canine adenovirus (CAV) attacks the liver and kidneys, causing infectious canine hepatitis. If not caught early enough, CAV can be fatal, but those that do receive treatment can recover without severe complications. Some may, however, experience side-effects after treatment for the rest of their lives.
CAV can have the following symptoms:
- fever
- appetite loss
- painful abdomen
- coughing
- symptoms of jaundice (yellowed sclera, mouth and skin)
- vomiting
- bloody diarrhoea (in unvaccinated dogs)
After recovery from canine hepatitis, traces of the virus can still be found in the dog’s urine for up to six months.
Canine adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2)
Canine adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2) is structurally similar to CAV, but it attacks the respiratory system and causes infectious tracheobronchitis (ITB). It’s just one of many viruses responsible for the disease complex that causes kennel cough, although it also attacks the GI tract and eventually the central nervous system.
Symptoms of infectious tracheobronchitis may include:
- cough
- mucoid discharge
- lung infection
- symptoms associated with CNS
Kennel cough is treated supportively, but it needs a fast diagnosis and treatment before it worsens into bronchopneumonia. If left untreated, the disease at this stage can quickly become fatal.
Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV)
Related to distemper, the canine parainfluenza virus causes parainfluenza and attacks the respiratory system. CPIV – like CAV-2 – causes infectious tracheobronchitis and is one of the pathogens responsible for the canine infectious respiratory disease complex, which causes kennel cough.
Parainfluenza symptoms can include:
- coughing (wet or dry, productive or non-productive)
- blood present in sputum
- nasal discharge
- fever
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
Some dogs will show no symptoms at all, making a strong case for vaccination. Asymptomatic dogs are still infectious, so it’s important that all dogs be protected against parainfluenza with the use of vaccines. There is no cure, so treatment for the disease is supportive and can be administered at home with prescribed medication, rest and isolation from other pets.
What are in the non-core vaccines?
Depending on where you live and your dog’s lifestyle, the vet may also recommend the two non-core shots for your furry friend.
- Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects the liver and kidneys, resulting in a high fever. Dogs can get leptospirosis from rats, but it’s also a zoonotic disease, meaning humans can contract it when they come into contact with an infected dog’s urine. It is more common in subtropical climates with high humidity, in areas where there is standing water.
- Bordetella is a bacterial disease caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica It starts as a mild cough, but can develop into pneumonia. It is highly contagious and spreads fast in dog populations that are in close confines – hence the name ‘kennel cough’. The vet will recommend this non-core vaccine if your dog frequently visits a well-attended dog park or is boarded often. If you plan to travel overseas with your dog, they may need a Bordatella shot.
What’s in the core 3-in-1 for cats?
There are three deadly viral diseases against which all cats and kittens need protection:
- 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)
Feline panleukopenia is the ‘feline distemper’ or ‘feline parvo’ for cats, but it’s distinct from the type of virus that attacks dogs. However, similar to distemper, FPV targets the cat’s GI tract, resulting in GI-related symptoms:
- appetite loss
- lethargy
- vomiting
- bloody diarrhoea
- dehydration
- eye and nose discharge
It also quickly destroys white blood cells, weakening the cat’s immune system and disabling it from fighting infection. With no cure, vets can only treat the symptoms. Due to its attack on immunity, FPV has a high mortality rate in kittens.
2. Feline calicivirus (FCV)
Feline calicivirus attacks a cat’s upper respiratory tract, resulting in symptoms like coughing and sneezing, although these can progress to pneumonia if not treated soon. Highly infectious and contagious, FCV spreads easily through contact with infected cats.
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, but it can be treated supportively at home with prescribed medication. In rare cases with severe infection, the cat may need to be hospitalised. Usually, with immediate treatment, this won’t be necessary and they will recover well.
3. Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV)
Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV) or feline rhinotracheitis virus causes the upper respiratory disease rhinotracheitis. It presents as upper respiratory symptoms with fever and can progress to pneumonia unless treatment is swift. It is highly contagious and there is no cure, so vaccination is critical.
Some of the symptoms of feline herpesvirus-1 include:
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- conjunctivitis (feline pink eye)
- eye and nasal discharge
- ulcers in the mouth
- pneumonia
The vet will treat the disease supportively, but owners must be aware that FHV can go dormant in the cat’s system after the symptoms have cleared. A stressful even can retrigger the disease without the cat being exposed to the virus again.
The 3-in-1 core vaccination for cats doesn’t make them immune to these diseases, but it does greatly reduce the duration and severity of the disease if they are infected by a virus. The great number of stray cat colonies in South Africa make it crucial that cat owners vaccinate their pets and keep infection rates low.
Non-core vaccination for cats
An important, though non-core, vaccine for cats is against the feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). Infection with this virus can weaken the cat’s immune system, which makes it vulnerable to a number of other illnesses such as cancer, which target various systems in the body. FeLV cats can live long lives, but they should not be homed with healthy FeLV-free cats. In homes where FeLV cats live with other cats with known or unknown FeLV status, the vet will recommend the FeLV vaccine.
The vet may also recommend other non-core cat vaccines for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV – or feline AIDS), Chlamydophila felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
Mandatory shot: Rabies vaccine
It is a legal requirement in South Africa for domestic dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Read more about the severity of this disease in our rabies article here. Puppies and kittens must get their first shot against rabies at the age of 12 weeks, then a booster before they turn one. From then onwards, they will need an annual or triennial booster to keep their immune system primed to fight any rabies infection. Rabies vaccines are not only mandatory to protect our pets, but especially to protect young children who are the most vulnerable victims of dog bites. Rabies is fatal.
Critical vaccination schedules
Puppies and kittens receive antibodies from their mothers for the first four to six weeks of life. After that, they will need to start their core and non-core vaccination schedules.
- Core vaccines are given at six weeks, nine weeks, and 12 weeks, with a booster at six months and/or one year of age. Core vaccinations are then given every year to three years, consistently, for the rest of their lives, 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.
During your pet’s annual vet check-up, you will be able to discuss their vaccination schedule with the vet. The vet will recommend which vaccines your pet should receive and when. Keep your pet’s vet card up to date and ensure they are protected against these deadly diseases, and go on to live long, healthy, happy lives.