Vaccinating your pets against disease is one of the most important aspects of pet health care. Proper vaccination can spare your pets from such potentially deadly diseases as rabies, distemper and feline leukemia. Vaccinations must be re-administered periodically to protect your pets from diseases and keep them healthy for a lifetime.
RABIES
is a viral disease affecting almost all mammals, including humans, and it is incurable once it occurs. For this reason, many municipalities absolutely require that all dogs and cats receive rabies vaccinations on regular basis.
A Rabies vaccine is required by Illinois State law for both cats and dogs.
CANINE DISTEMPER
is one of the greatest threats to the canine population. More than 50% of adult dogs that contract the disease will die from it. Among puppies, the death rate from distemper often reaches 80%. Vaccination against this often fatal, hard-to-treat disease is absolutely essential.
CANINE PARVOVIRUS (CPV) INFECTION
is a very contagious, debilitating and widespread disease. Spread through infected feces, the highly resistant virus can remain in the environment for many months. Vaccination is the only certain method of preventing this potentially fatal disease, which I s most severe in your puppies and elderly dogs.
BORDETELLA (KENNEL COUGH)
is an upper respiratory disease that produces coughing, sneezing, and often a nasal discharge. Like parvo, it is found wherever dogs congregate. The vaccine is usually given by way of nose drops, but is also available in an injectable form.
BORRELIA (LYME DISEASE)
is an extremely painful, debilitating bacterial disease that is transmitted by ticks and results in chronic arthritis and, sometimes, death. This disease is very common in Illinois and Wisconsin area.
FELINE LEUKEMIA (FELV)
is a viral disease that attacks t-cells in a cat’s blood. If your cat goes outside or lives with other cats that go outside, it should be vaccinated for feline leukemia. Once an infected cat is introduced to a household, the disease can remain in the environment for up to a year after the cat has been removed.
FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA (FP) VIRUS
usually referred to as feline distemper, is a virus that runs rampant in the feline community. Even if you raise your cat in total isolation, it is all but impossible to prevent exposure to this deadly virus. Once tested, our doctors recommend your feline companion be vaccinated every year as a booster to maintain immunization.