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Worming | Vaccinations (Dogs | Cats | Rabbits | Horses)
Vaccinations - Dogs
Only Australian vaccines manufactured by CSL are used where possible at our surgery. We recommend the following vaccination schedule for dogs:
| 6-8 weeks old | C3 vaccine (vs Distemper, Hepatitis & Parvovirus) |
| 12 weeks old | C5 and C2 vaccine (= C3 + Canine/Kennel Cough protection -> Parainfluenza virus & Bordetella spp + coronavirus / Leptospirosis) |
| 16 weeks old | C5 and C2 vaccine |
| Annually | C5 vaccine |
Even completely indoor dogs need annual booster vaccinations because the diseases can be carried into the home by owners or visitors on their clothing or shoes and Canine cough (upper respiratory disease) can be carried with wind for kilometres.
There has been some stirrings in American Veterinary Journals suggesting that older dogs that have been consistently vaccinated from a young age may have immunity that lasts 2 years or longer. Currently research is being conducted to verify or discredit this theory. It appears from the preliminary results that in over half the cases this may be true. The recommendation however is to still vaccinate elderly dogs yearly especially since Canine cough vaccination still need to be done annually (& more often in high risk areas or at peak times). The fear is that clients may move house or forget to vaccinate their older dogs and we will see the re-emergence of fatal disease outbreaks (especially parvo) in old dogs & also in the most at risk puppies.
Puppies are always at risk of fatal disease even when they have been vaccinated. This is because there is a period between 6 and 16 weeks when they still have protection from their mother, which prevents the vaccine from working but the protection is not high enough to defend against natural infection. During this period it is advisable not to let the puppy have access to public places. The catch 22 is that this is an important time for socialization of the puppy. In certain at-risk breeds for parvovirus eg Rottweilers it is recommended to have a further puppy vaccine at 18-20 weeks.
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Vaccinations - Cats
The following schedule is recommended for cat vaccination:
| 6-8 weeks | F3 vaccine (Feline enteritis, coronavirus and cat flu viruses) and FIV vaccine if an outdoor cat (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) |
| 12 weeks | F3 vaccine (or F3 + Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) + FIV vaccine if an outdoor cat) |
| 16 weeks | F3 vaccine (or F3 + FeLV + FIV if an outdoor cat) |
| Annually | F3 vaccine (or F3 + FeLV + FIV if an outdoor cat) |
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) is a highly contagious virus that has a very low incidence in our area. Transmission is via bodily fluids (urine, saliva, sneezing, etc) so direct contact need not occur with an infected cat. All outdoor cats are advised to be vaccinated vs FeLV. Infection is often fatal if contracted within the first year of age. Sometimes infections can be dormant/symptomless for years before showing illnesses such as anaemia, kidney failure, immunosuppression, etc.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) has a higher prevalence in our area. Fortunately, a vaccine has been developed recently to prevent against this disease. Direct contact is required with an infected cat to pass infection eg fighting, scratching/biting, mating. Infections can remain symptomless for years before developing into Feline AIDS. It is recommended that any cat who goes outdoors should be vaccinated against FIV. A cat that has not previously been vaccinated for FIV (including kittens) will need a course of 3 vaccinations, 2-4wks apart, followed by yearly boosters. An optional blood test is available at D.R.V.C. to ensure that cats being vaccinated for the first time are not already infected with FIV.
Indoor cats still need to be vaccinated with an F3 vaccine because infection can be brought home by owners or visitors on clothing and the cat 'flu' can be carried on the wind for kilometres.
In recent years an F4 vaccination has become available which is an F3 + Chlamydia inoculation. This could be advisable for kittens or catteries that have a problem with Chlamydia. Symptoms of Chlamydia can be similar to cat flu including eye ulcers, sneezing and nasal discharge. Unfortunately some adverse reactions have been reported with the F4 vaccine and Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics if detected early in the course of the disease. Currently at DRVC we are not using the vaccine.
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Vaccinations - Rabbits
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (Calicivirus) is a fatal disease that can strike suddenly without prior illness. The symptoms are usually sudden death often with bleeding from nostrils, vent, mouth or ears. The schedule for vaccination is 2 injections 1 month apart from 9 weeks of age then yearly boosters. If there is a suspected outbreak or high risk then vaccination is recommended every 6-9 months.
Myxomatosis is another fatal disease of rabbits. The symptoms include swellings around the eyes, mouth and genitals progressing over days to weeks to breathing problems, pneumonia and a protracted death. Sometimes (<5% of cases) rabbits can survive but usually are very prone to further lung infections and fail to thrive. There is no vaccine available in Australia to prevent myxomatosis like there is available overseas. The federal & state governments release virulent strains of the virus periodically to try to reduce the wild rabbit over-population problem.
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Vaccinations - Horses
The most common diseases to vaccinate against are tetanus & strangles. The recommended schedule is:
Foals:
1st injection at 3 months of age - 2 in 1 (tetanus & strangles) or just tetanus
2nd injection 2 weeks later - strangles only
3rd injection 4 weeks after 1st injection - 2 in 1 or just tetanus
Yearlings - 3 year olds:
Yearly booster of 2 in 1 or just tetanus
4 year old & beyond:
Yearly strangles / 2 in 1 booster
Tetanus every 2-5 years
Adult horses that have never been vaccinated:
As per foal schedule
Strangles is a bacterial infection (streptococcus equi) that causes enormous swellings of the lymph nodes (glands) under the jaw and in the angle of the head/neck. The glandular abscesses can become so large that the horse or pony can be strangled by pressure on the windpipe. It is a very contagious disease and usually occurs in outbreaks in areas affecting a lot of horses in contact with each other. The most at risk horses are those that attend shows or events and mix with horses from different areas and environments. Strangles does not affect dogs / cats / other species.
Tetanus is another bacterial disease (Clostridia spp.) that is carried in large numbers in horse faeces. Injuries that result from puncture or stake wounds or tooth abscesses commonly cause tetanus. Often the injury is sustained days to weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. Symptoms in horses include stiffness (saw horse stance), difficulty opening the mouth (hence the common name of Lockjaw), super sensitivity to noises, lights or touch stimulation, 3rd eyelid flicking in the eyes, spasms leading to difficulty in getting up and finally death from spasm of the diaphragm muscle causing asphyxiation. Other species can be affected including people, dogs and cats. All people who work around horses directly or indirectly should have regular vaccinations against tetanus. Treatment of tetanus is never very successful even if the signs are recognized early because horses (& people) are very susceptible to the disease. Dogs and cats seem to be more resistant and if treated early enough in the course of the disease can usually be saved.
Equine Herpes Virus - 1 can cause abortion & lung disease (persistent cough) in stud animals. The vaccination schedule is 2 injections 1 month apart then yearly boosters. Only breeding or racing horses are usually vaccinated against this virus.
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DRVC Worming Regimen
The recommended program for worming your dog and cat is as follows:
Every 2 weeks from birth to 3 months old
Every month from 3 months to 6 months of age
Every 3 months from 6 months old onwards for life
Pregnant bitches should be wormed 2 weeks before whelping
We recommend highly effective all-wormers like Drontal, Popantel, Milbemax, Canex & Endogard. Some are flavoured like canex beef chews and endogard (liver). For puppies there are chocolate flavoured liquid suspensions and pastes for cats. Supermarket wormers are not recommended because most are less than 90% effective against the common worms.
A highly effective way to worm your cat without having to use a tablet or paste is to apply Revolution to the skin at the back of the neck. It is very effective against roundworms and hookworms but not tapeworms. However, it treats fleas (which are the carriers of tapeworms) as well as worms. It also treats feline heartworm & ear mites all in one monthly application. |
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