Rabies is rampant in KZN, and as much as you like to think there is nothing you can do about the matter, there is – vaccinate your pets! A viral disease that causes the inflammation of the brain in humans and other warm-blooded mammals, rabies, once contracted, is ALWAYS fatal. Vaccinating your pets is the ONLY way to protect them, your family and others, against this terrifying disease.

Rabies, however, is not the only disease-causing organisms (pathogens) your pet will be exposed to during his/her lifetime. Vaccination against pathogens like the canine parvovirus and feline herpes virus remain the single most effective method of keeping your pet healthy and happy.

 

How does a vaccination work?

Vaccines contain modified or killed strains of viruses and/or bacteria that will stimulate an immune reaction without causing disease. Vaccination stimulates your pet’s immune system to produce antibodies against these pathogens so that when your pet is exposed to these pathogens, the body already has antibodies in place to fight the disease and prevent illness from occurring. It is therefore important that animals are healthy when vaccinated to ensure that their immune systems are able to respond to the vaccine.

Please note that vaccinations are used to prevent disease and will not cure an animal once it has contracted the illness.

 

When should I vaccinate?

Puppies and kittens receive maternal antibodies from their mother’s milk, which provide protection against pathogens for the first few weeks of life. These antibodies are temporary and levels will begin to decline over time, making the puppy/kitten susceptible to disease. Your puppy will therefore need to be vaccinated at  6, 9 and 12 weeks of age, while kittens require two vaccinations at 9 and 12 weeks of age. Rabies vaccines are given at 12 weeks of age with a booster a month later. Another booster should be administered at least a year later.

Why so many? Those maternal antibodies we were talking about can sometimes interfere with vaccines, making it difficult to know whether the animal has adequately responded to a vaccination. As with any biological system, there is no way to predict exactly when this happens so, puppies and kittens require a series of vaccinations to ensure that they will develop sufficient protective antibodies.

 

How soon is vaccination effective?

Antibodies take time to develop and your pet will not be protected immediately. Full protection usually only occurs at least 2 weeks after the vaccine and only after multiple vaccinations in puppies. During this time, puppies are extremely susceptible to Parvo virus, a life-threatening gastrointestinal virus that is only preventable by vaccinating against it. It is essential that booster vaccines are administered on time – delaying vaccination by even a few weeks can result in puppies becoming infected.

 

What vaccines are administered to my pet?

Core (essential) vaccines include the “5-in-1” vaccine in dogs and the “3-in-1” vaccine in cats, and rabies in both species. These provide protection against parvovirus, distemper virus, infectious hepatitis and parainfluenza in dogs and feline herpes virus, calici virus and panleukopaenia virus in cats.

Rabies is a separate vaccine and is administered from the age of 12 weeks and included in your pets’ annual vaccination protocol.

Other pathogens can be included in vaccination protocols, depending on the disease prevalence in the area as well as your pets’ risk of exposure. Kennel cough inoculations are non-core vaccines but are advised if your dog is going to be kennelled or if he/she regularly comes into contact with other dogs (dog training, shows, etc).

 

How often should my adult pet be vaccinated?

Antibody levels naturally decline over time therefore booster vaccinations should be administered to “remind” the immune system to continue producing antibodies. Modified-live virus vaccines have been shown to stimulate antibody production for up to three years, however, there are individual breeds that respond differently to vaccination. Nutrition, internal parasites such as worms, environmental challenge and individual immune status vary between pets and it is not possible to assess individual immune status without measuring antibody titres (blood levels).

Annual rabies vaccination is required by law in KwaZulu-Natal, due to the endemic nature of rabies in the province. Kennel cough vaccines, on the other hand, should be administered every 6 months as the immunity stimulated by bacterial vaccines tends to be more short-lived than their viral counterparts.

Annual vaccinations should include a comprehensive physical examination to allow early detection of heart disease, kidney disease and tumours. This is often the only time “healthy” pets are presented for a routine check-up and is vital for early detection of underlying disease before it becomes a clinical problem.