Fostering a Healthy Pet Community

Shelter Pushes for Pet Vaccines

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

With several shelters in Williamson County experiencing a recent increase in distemper cases, the Wilco Regional Animal Shelter (WCRAS) is highlighting the importance of pet vaccines in the hopes of fostering a healthy pet community.

Canine distemper has a wide range of symptoms, including high fever, eye inflammation and eye/nose discharge, coughing, lethargy, reduced appetite, and more severe symptoms like seizures and paralysis. The virus is spread through the air and by direct or indirect (e.g., utensils, bedding) contact with an infected animal.

HEALTHY COMMUNITY,HEALTHY SHELTER

Studies have shown that 60 percent of dogs that enter shelters are not vaccinated against distemper or parvovirus, which puts those dogs and others in shelters at a high risk of developing preventable diseases. “Vaccinations are the best way to prevent the spread of diseases and illnesses that are prevalent in nature and could harm our pets. It is considered the easiest way to help your pet live a long, healthy life,” WCRAS Community Programs Coordinator April Peiffer says, adding, “Vaccines not only protect that individual animal. Vaccines help keep the whole community protected from disease. A healthy community pet population leads to a healthy pet population in our shelters.”

Last year, WCRAS introduced a feline combo vaccine into their clinics for community cats and saw a significant decrease in panleukopenia in kittens that entered the shelter during kitten season last summer.

CORE VACCINES

Fully vaccinated pets may be safe from highly contagious viruses like parvovirus, distemper, and panleukopenia – all serious illnesses that require costly medical intervention to treat successfully and are fatal if left untreated.

Always check with your veterinarian for the type of vaccine and schedule of re-vaccinations that are best for the age and health of your pet. The core vaccines that all pet owners should provide their dogs are for parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and rabies. Cat owners should provide their pets with panleukopenia (feline distemper), calicivirus, herpesvirus type I (rhinotracheitis), and rabies. For pets that will spend a lot of time with other pets in environments like boarding facilities or doggy day cares, Bordatella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leptospira bacteria are recommended as well.

While WCRAS doesn’t provide vaccines at this time due to being understaffed and overpopulated, other shelters and businesses offer them regularly. However, April says, “if individuals in the shelter's jurisdiction are having difficulty with affording basic combo vaccines for their pets, they can call the shelter for resources.”

For assistance with vaccines and other resources, call WCRAS at 512-943-3322. The shelter is open from noon to 6pm every day.