Preventive medicine in small animals

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Preventative medicine in small animals IVSA Standing Committee on Veterinary Education (SCoVE)

Vaccinations Vaccines are divided into two classes. Core vaccines are those that should be given to every animal. They protect animals from severe, life-threatening diseases which have global distribution. Noncore vaccines are recommended only for certain dogs regarding their geographical location, local environment or lifestyle places them at risk of contracting specific infections.

Preventative medicine Include: ‫ ؞‬ Vaccination and deworming ‫ ؞‬ Readily available consultations on basic husbandry (i.e. nutrition, housing)

Benefits: ‫ ؞‬ boost immunity and prevent infectious disease ‫ ؞‬ prevent spread of disease to other animals ‫ ؞‬ prevent weight loss and unthriftiness due to internal parasites ‫ ؞‬ prevent injuries ‫ ؞‬ insure optimal nutrition for overall wellbeing

Core vaccinations

Noncore vaccinations

DOGS

DOGS

1. Canine distemper 2. Canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis) 3. Canine parvovirus-2 4. Rabies

1. Leptospirosis 2. Coronavirus 3. Canine parainfluenza and bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough) 4. Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease)

CATS

CATS

1. Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1) 2. Feline calicivirus (FCV) 3. Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) 4. Rabies

1. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) 2. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) 3. virulent FCV 4. Chlamydia felis 5. Bordetella bronchiseptica

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Combined vaccines Core vaccinations are in many cases combined as RCP shot for cats and DHPP shot for dogs, and rabies vaccine is accompanied to that.

RCP R = Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is an upper respiratory infection, also known as feline influenza, which is caused by feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1).

FVR is very contagious and can cause severe disease, including death from pneumonia in young kittens.

C = Feline calicivirus (FCV) In addition to FHV-1, is the other common viral cause of respiratory infection in cats.

Types of vaccines Inactivated (killed) vaccines

P = Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is caused by the feline parvovirus, a close relative of canine parvovirus. Panleukopenia is highly contagious and can be fatal.

contain whole viruses or bacteria which have been inactivated by heat or chemical treatment. They are usually coupled with an ‘adjuvant’ that acts as a stimulant to enhance the animal’s immune response

DHPP

Live attenuated vaccines

D = Canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a serious infection, with a death rate approaching 50 percent in untreated dogs. The virus attacks the respiratory, digestive, and brain/nervous systems of dogs.

H = Canine Adenovirus, Hepatitis (or A2) vaccine protects against canine adenovirus-2 and canine adenovirus-1, so it is often referred to as A2. Canine adenovirus-1 causes canine infectious hepatitis, a serious disease that affects the liver. Canine adenovirus-2 causes respiratory disease and is one of the infectious agents commonly associated with tracheobronchitis, also known as kennel cough.

P = Parvovirus. is highly contagious and serious disease, with a death rate approaching 90 percent in untreated dogs. The virus attacks the digestive and immune systems of unvaccinated animals, causing debilitating diarrhea and vomiting.

P = Parainfluenza causes a mild respiratory disease often referred as “kennel couch”.

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contain whole viruses or bacteria which have been weakened or ‘attenuated’. They offer better stimulation of the immune response and require lower doses of the bacteria or viruses. Ideally they should not cause any clinical signs of disease.

Subunit vaccines contain only viral or bacterial antigens which can trigger animmune response

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Possible vaccination schedule for the average dog Age

Vaccination

5 weeks

Parvovirus: for puppies at high risk of exposure to parvo, some veterinarians recommend vaccinating at 5 weeks.

6 & 9 weeks

Combination vaccine (DHPP) Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern.

12 weeks or older

Rabies: age at vaccination may vary according to local law

12 & 15 weeks

Combination vaccine (DHPP) Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs.

Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern.

Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs.

Adult (boosters)

Combination vaccine (DHPP) Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs.

Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern.

Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs.

Rabies: time interval between vaccinations may vary according to local law and manufacturer

Rabies

Different ways of using vaccines

Each state has its own laws governing the administration of the rabies vaccine. Some areas require yearly rabies vaccination. Other areas call for vaccines every three years. In almost all states, proof of rabies vaccination is mandatory.

Routine (prophylactic) vaccination to prevent disease. For example, routine vaccination of cats against Panleukopenia virus.

Emergency vaccination to control an outbreak, by slowing the spread of a disease

In accordance with California state law, is recommended that puppies receive a single dose of killed rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. Adult dogs with unknown vaccination history should also receive a single dose of killed rabies vaccine.

A booster is required one year later, and thereafter, rabies vaccination should be performed every 3 years using a vaccine approved for 3-year administration.

Wildlife vaccination can reducethe spread of diseases like rabies from wildlife to pets

Injection Most vaccines are given by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Respiratory tract disease vaccination may be given intra-nasally in some cases.

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Deworming There are two types of parasites, internal parasites and external parasites. Internal parasites (ensoparasites) live inside animals, in the intestines, blood, muscle tissue or even brain.

External parasites (ectoparasites) live on or in the skin. Parasites can cause great discomfort, transmit disease to animals and humans and significantly interfere with the relationship between people and animals. Geographical location, lifestyle, housing conditions and species play a role in which parasites are likely to present.

Common Intestinal Parasites Roundworms and hookworms are most commonly found in puppies and kittens.

Parasites can be passed directly from the mother before puppies are born or afterwards in the milk. The eggs are very common in the environment and spreads easily.

Heartworms (adult) live in the heart and the progeny live in the bloodstream. The parasites are transmitted by the mosquito which carries the larvae.

Whipworms are more often found in adult animals but can be found in puppies as well. Dogs are more commonly affected, usually by fecal-oral transmission.

Tapeworms are most commonly found in cats. Animals most often become infected with tapeworms by ingesting fleas that are carrying the immature stages of the tapeworm or by eating rodents, rabbits, etc.

Thus, animals with flea infestations and animals that are good hunters are more at risk for tapeworms.

Coccidia and Giardiasis are types of protozoa living in intestine and spread by fecal-oral transmission. Both of them can be hard to eliminate from the environment.

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Common external parasites Fleas are one of the most common parasites.

They not only cause uncomfortableness and irritation, but dogs and cats can develop flea saliva hypersensitivity or allergy, and they can be carrier of tapeworms.

Diagnosis

Mites are a common cause of itching and scratching in dogs and cats. There are a variety of mites, but the 3 most common species that cause disease in dogs and cats include Demodex, Sarcoptes and Otodectes.

Internal parasites are most easily identified with fecal floatation and observed with a microscope. Tapeworm eggs tend to be very heavy and do not readily float, therefore they are most commonly diagnosed by finding tapeworm segements in the stool or on the hair around the rectum. Giardia is very difficult to diagnose as well and requires a special type of fecal solution.

Lice are most frequently associated with unsanitary conditions and in very young, old or debilitated animals. Lice are extremely host specific.

Ticks are an important transmitter of diseases like Ehrlihia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease or Anaplasmosis to animals and humans. Bites causes also abscesses to animals.

External parasites can be detected by direct examination of the animal or through skin scrapings.

Deworming Recommendations Many dewormers are available, but unfortunately, noneof them will kill all of these parasites. Dewormers must be chosen according to the type of parasite that is present, taking in consideration breed specific factors, as collies sensititation towards ivermektin.

1. Administer year round broad-spectrum heartworm medications.

2. Deworm puppies and kittens at age 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age and then monthly until 6 months of age.

3. Deworm nursing dogs and cats at the same time as their offspring.

4. Conduct fecal examinations 2 to 4 times per year for adult animals, depending on health

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IVSA SCoVE hope you enjoyed this short but useful leaflet on Preventative medicine in small animals. SCoVE is here to support you on your veterinary educational journey. We always appreciate feedback and if you would like us to produce leaflets on other topics then please do not hesitate to contact us via our Facebook Page! We also have the IVSA Vet Education Forum group on Facebook to connect with students globally and to share and support one another with educational material.

Good wishes from SCoVE Committee!