VACCINATION 101

from Pet Prints Magazine November/December 2021

WELFARE DIRECTORY

Vaccination

101

Immunity identikit

Think of pathogens (disease-causing organisms, like viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites) as invaders. They sneak into the body, where they cause damage, use resources, and make us ill. The immune system is the body’s defence force - it detects the invaders and mounts an attack to fight and eradicate them. In the process, antibodies are created with a detailed ‘identikit’ of the intruder so that, if it comes along again, it will be recognised and can be combated and, hopefully, defeated. Most pathogens are mild and can be easily overcome; others are so powerful and multiply so rapidly that they cannot be defeated without serious damage to the body, or even death. Fortunately, we have vaccines for many of these nasties.

A vaccine is an altered form of the pathogen from which scientists have removed the disease-causing aspect. This ‘deactivated’ pathogen is introduced into the body, usually via injection, but sometimes orally or nasally. Essentially, it shows the immune army the ‘identikit’ without the risk of serious illness, which allows the body to prepare a strong defence for when the real thing comes along. Some vaccinations don’t create complete immunity, and it’s still possible to get sick, but then the infection usually isn’t as severe. Most vaccines that we give to our pets, if administered correctly and regularly, provide excellent protection against some very serious contagious illnesses.

It’s important to know that this immunity is not instant. As with any defence system, it takes a little while to develop the right protection. It also does not last forever, so regular reminders (booster vaccinations) are needed, particularly in young animals. Once is not enough for full protection – unless a vaccination programme is followed, the protection is not complete. That’s why it is so important to take your pet for their scheduled shots.

getting the essentials

So, you’re on track with all their jabs…but what are they actually for? Several vaccines are considered essential as they protect against serious, highly contagious diseases - these are called core vaccines and they are the ones most dogs and cats receive. The most important one is against rabies, a deadly disease which can be transmitted to humans and animals. In fact, vaccination is compulsory, under the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1985), because it protects everyone. South African state veterinarian, Dr Alicia Cloete, who specialises in animal disease control at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) advises that puppies and kittens should receive their first rabies vaccine by 12 weeks, followed by a booster within 12 months, but at least one month after the first vaccine. Thereafter, booster vaccinations every three years are required (or annually in high-risk settings). If your pet was vaccinated earlier than 12 weeks, they will need an extra vaccination. If they were not vaccinated at 12 weeks or you don’t know their history, you can vaccinate them at any time, and follow this up with a booster between one and 12 months afterwards, and then follow the annual, or three-yearly schedule, as mentioned.

everyone seems to be talking about vaccinations these days. but hoW do they actually Work, and Why are they imPortant for our furry family members?

Aside from rabies vaccination, dogs and cats have different core requirements. According to the South African Veterinary Association’s vaccination guidelines, core vaccines for dogs (DHPP/DAPP) are Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper Virus, and Canine Adenovirus type 2. Core vaccines for cats (FVRCP) are Feline Panleukopaenia Virus, Feline Herpes Virus, and Feline Calicivirus. Some of these diseases can be fatal and spread rapidly; they may even affect wild animals. Dr Lesley van Helden, State Veterinarian: Epidemiology, at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, says: “Canine parvovirus and distemper can infect almost all wild carnivores and cause outbreaks and deaths in wildlife populations. For instance, there have been reports of distemper causing deaths in endangered African wild dogs.” Vaccinations considered to be non-essential are given only if circumstances require (e.g., travelling or kennelling); they include Bordetella (kennel cough) for dogs and cats, leptospirosis (which can be transmitted to humans) and canine parainfluenza for dogs, and FIV, FeLV, and feline chlamydia in cats.

When we decide to bring animals into our lives, we take on a responsibility - not just for them and their health, but for everything else that could be affected by their presence. The more animals that are vaccinated, the stronger the ‘circle of protection’ that shields those who are more vulnerable. Protecting animals and each other really is something that we all can do. And it starts with vaccinations

core vaccine schedule for dogs

1. Core: 6 – 8 weeks old 2. Core: 4 weeks after the first vaccination at 10 – 12 weeks old. 3. Core + Rabies: 4 weeks after the second vaccination at 14 – 16 weeks old. Note that, if the rabies vaccine was given before 12 weeks, it will need to be given again. 4. Core + Rabies: 12 months old 5. Thereafter, Core + Rabies every 1 - 3 years, or as advised by your veterinarian.

*DHPP/DAPP: Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 1 (Hepatitis), Adenovirus Type 2 (Respiratory Disease), Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.

Inoculation, vaccination, or immunisation – which is correct?

Inoculation refers to any process that implants a microorganism into the body, not necessarily to stimulate immune function. In medicine, we introduce altered versions of viruses and bacteria (vaccines) with the intention of stimulating an immune response. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same: you are inoculated with a vaccine (vaccinated) in order to create immunity (immunisation).

1796

The first documented vaccination administered. English doctor Edward Jenner used the vaccinia (cowpox) virus in order to prevent infection with the deadly smallpox virus. It would be over a hundred years before the first vaccine for animals, when Louis Pasteur invented one for chicken cholera in 1879.

1884

Scientist Louis Pasteur invented the canine rabies vaccination. In 1885, the vaccine was given to a child who had been bitten by a rabid dog, which is credited with saving his life.

9-99

Every 9 minutes, someone in the world dies of rabies. 99% of these cases are transmitted by rabid dogs. Rabies spread can be prevented through vaccination of dogs and cats.

RABIES

red alert for rabIes

“Globally, every nine minutes, a person dies of rabies, according to the World Health Organisation,” says South African state veterinarian, Dr Alicia Cloete, who specialises in animal disease control at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). “This fatal disease affects the brain and has a terrible course - it is disturbing to witness animals and people suffering from rabies and eventually succumbing to it. Once symptoms appear, there is no effective treatment,” she cautions.

The virus, which affects the brains of mammals, is spread via saliva, and can be transmitted through bites, licks, or scratches from a rabid animal to other animals or people. In animals, signs include fever, behavioural changes (for example, friendly pets may become aggressive; wild animals may become unusually tame), difficulty swallowing and drooling (causing the classic appearance of ‘foaming at the mouth’), photophobia (aversion to light), staggering, trembling, collapse, and seizures.

It’s serIous In south afrIca

Cloete emphasises that this zoonotic disease should be taken extremely seriously, “In 2020, 294 animal rabies cases were officially reported to the SA Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), up from 257 in 2019. By the end of July 2021, just over 330 laboratory-confirmed animal rabies cases were recorded.” This may be the tip of the iceberg as many outbreaks are never detected.

Rabies is endemic to our country – this means that it’s a naturally occurring part of our environment. Dr Lesley Van Helden, state veterinarian (epidemiology) at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, says that, “In different parts of SA, rabies cycles are maintained by domestic dogs, jackals, yellow mongooses, or bat-eared foxes. However, dog rabies poses the biggest threat to humans: 99% of human rabies cases around the world are a result of infection from rabid dogs.

”Van Helden advises that, “It is predominantly reported in the eastern parts of the country (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape provinces and the eastern Free State border with Lesotho).” However, it can and does occur all over SA. Most recently, in June 2021, three confirmed cases of rabies in wild animals were found on Gauteng’s West Rand, and in August 2021, two rabid dogs were reported in the densely populated area of Khayelitsha.

Join the good fight

The good news, says Cloete, is that, “Dog-mediated human rabies is 100% preventable. This can be achieved through creating rabies awareness, adequate vaccination coverage of dog populations (70% coverage) and access to affordable post-exposure prophylaxis for people. SA State veterinary services vaccinate animals for rabies throughout the year, but there are periods when vaccination campaigns intensify, particularly around World Rabies Day (annually on 28 September). Some provinces even provide free vaccines to welfare organisations to ensure that even indigent dogs and cats are protected.” This is part of the global ‘Zero by 30’ (zero cases of dogmediated human rabies deaths by 2030) strategic plan.

We can’t do much to stop wild animals from getting rabies yet but, says Cloete, “On a larger scale, vaccinated pets in our communities can create a “buffer” between people, and wildlife and stray animals that may be infected.” With the movement of people and their animals throughout the country, increase in heavily populated areas, and encroachment into previously wild spaces, vaccinating our pets against rabies and supporting outreach programmes that vaccinate freeroaming dogs and cats has never been more important.

If you see a suspected rabid animal, do not approach it. It is also advised not to pick up stray animals in highrisk rabies areas. Instead, contact a local veterinarian or animal welfare for assistance. If you have been licked, scratched, or bitten by a suspected rabid animal, clean the area thoroughly with soap and running water and seek immediate medical attention for post-exposure prophylaxis (a course of injections that must be completed). Even if the animal is not rabid, in order to prevent bacterial infections, animal bite/ scratch wounds should always be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and, if you have not had a tetanus shot in the last decade, get a booster.

If your pet has been in contact with a suspected rabid animal, contact your vet immediately.

core vaccination schedule for cats

1. Core: 6 – 8 weeks old 2. Core: 4 weeks after the first vaccination at 10 to 12 weeks old. Note that, if the rabies vaccine was given before 12 weeks, it will need to be given again. 3. Core + Rabies: 4 weeks after the second vaccination at 14 to 16 weeks old 4. Core + Rabies: 12 months old 5. Thereafter, Core + Rabies every 1 - 3 years, or as advised by your veterinarian.

*FVRCP: Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) caused by feline herpesvirus-1, Feline calicivirus (FCV), and Feline panleukopaenia (FPL) caused by feline parvovirus (FPV).

STERILISATION & BESITY - FACT CHECKo PlumP. big-boned. curvy. tubby. let’s not beat around the bush, rover is fat. a Waistline more akin to clock radio than hourglass, can’t Walk ten stePs Without Panting and a boeP that is the envy of many a sumo Wrestler.

As a veterinarian, I have seen my fair share of fat animals over the years. One of the most common excuses offered by owners for their animal’s not-exactlysvelte appearance? Sterilisation. Is it really that simple? Is that the only factor playing a role in the increased number of chubby patients rolling through my consult door? Or is there more to it?

Let’s start at the top. Can sterilisation lead to increased weight gain? Studies show that there certainly is a correlation between the sterilisation of animals and obesity. In one study, over a third of all neutered male cats were overweight or obese (1) and excess weight gain was found in spayed queens versus intact queens. The prevalence of obesity in neutered dogs was 32% compared to only 20% in intact males whilst obesity in intact bitches was 23 % versus 32 % in sterilised bitches. (2) The tendency for sterilised pets to be overweight or obese could be attributed to decreased roaming behaviour (i.e. looking for a mate), an increased daily food intake and a decreased resting metabolic rate. (3)

You may think the solution to this weighty issue is obvious; don’t sterilise your pets? Not so fast. There are numerous benefits to sterilisation that far outweigh (sorry) the downside.

Sterilisation decreases a number of unwanted, problematic behaviour in our pets. Spayed bitches tend to fight less, no longer attract unwanted males and show less roaming behaviour. Queens are renowned for their vocalization during oestrus and can have numerous heat cycles in a year.

After sterilisation, male animals tend to roam less, do not urine marking as frequently and have fewer territorial fights. In addition to the afore-mentioned, sterilisation also has numerous medical benefits and the main reason I advocate for the procedure. Spayed females have a decreased incidence of numerous cancers including mammary carcinoma (which is the second most common tumour in bitches(4) and the third most common tumour in queens), Uterine and ovarian cancers. Also prevented by sterilisation is pyometra which is a when the uterus is filled with purulent, toxic fluid requiring an emergency hysterectomy. In male dogs, sterilisation reduces the incidence of benign prostastic hyperplasia and testicular cancer. Tomcats (once sterilized) do not fight as much resulting in fewer abscesses (a common sequel to a cat fights) as well as a decreased risk of contracting an infectious disease such as feline immunodeficiency virus(5). I know what you’re thinking; Sterilisation seems like the way to go, after all, what is a few extra rolls between man and his best friend? The answer is “a lot”. Among the numerous conditions commonly associated with excess weight are a risk of joint problems, respiratory difficulties, cardiac disease, reproductive and urinary disorders as well as an increased risk of diabetes can all be greatly reduced with effective weight management. To snip or not to snip, that is the question? This isn’t as much of a conundrum as one would think. The adverse effects associated with not sterilising your pet cannot be reversed whereas the effects of excess weight and obesity can be reversed as well as controlled. Taking simple measures post-sterilisation can prevent the weight gain such as feeding a diet which is lower in calories due to sterilized pets decreased metabolic rate. In terms of feeding, make sure that you cut back on the treats, adhere to the food manufacturer’s feeding guideline and feed twice a day. Lastly, check that Rover is not coming back for seconds and vacuuming up your other pet’s food when you’re not watching. As with humans, regular exercise helps keep your pet fit and lean. If you notice weight gain in your pet, then act sooner rather than later and don’t dismiss it as simply a side-effect of sterilisation. The weight gain could be the result of other factors such as arthritis (which leads to decreased physical activity) and endocrine diseases such as cushings disease which lowers the pet’s metabolic rate thereby contributing to weight gain. Your friendly neighbourhood vet will be able to help you identify any of these causes.

So, does sterilisation increase the risk of obesity? Certainly, however, it can be controlled and is definitely not the only scapegoat. Diet, snacks and exercise all have a role to play in maintaining a healthy weight in your pet. Sterilisation is not an excuse for your pet being overweight; we need to stop focusing on this one potential factor and start seeing the bigger picture.

References will be supplied on request.