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A Wellness exam is the most important diagnostic tool that can be performed. Since pets cannot tell us how they are feeling, wellness exams performed by the doctor aid in detecting signs of early disease in a pet that is apparently healthy. If a disease or condition can be detected before a pet shows more severe signs of illness, we can often take steps to manage or correct the problem before irreparable damage is done.
Vaccine Recommendations from Oak Forest Veterinary Clinic include the following:
For Dogs:
We are recommending a Bordetella vaccine every 6 months. This is to protect against Kennel Cough. The Bordetella vaccine has been proven to last less than 1 year. For that reason, we recommend the vaccine twice a year. If your dog has not received this vaccine before, he or she should receive a booster vaccine 3 weeks after the initial vaccine.
Also for dogs, we recommend all dogs with a few exceptions be vaccinated yearly against Leptospirosis. This is a bacteria that is found in stagnant water ponds and transmitted in raccoon and squirrel urine. This potentially fatal disease can also be transmitted to humans by contacting an infected animal’s urine. The exception to our recommendation is all Dachshund dogs and lap dogs with limited exposure to the outdoors. These dogs historically have had vaccine reactions to the old formulation of this vaccine. If your dog has never received this vaccine, he or she will need a booster 3 weeks following the initial dose.
All dogs should have an annual DA2PP. This stands for Distemper, Adenovirus 2, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza Virus. As dogs get older, we may modify their vaccines and not require this vaccine annual. We recommend that the Parvovirus vaccine be given semi-annually to dogs up to 2 years of age. Parvo tends to be a disease of young dogs, and to vaccinate every 6 months for it in older dogs is no longer recommended. Dogs over 2 years of age should be vaccinated annually.
It is mandated by law that your pet be current with a Rabies vaccine. The law states that every rabies vaccine is to be a one year vaccine, regardless whether a 1 year or 3 year vaccines is used, unless a 3 year booster rabies vaccine is administered within 365 days. Then the vaccine and all subsequent vaccines are to be 3 year rabies vaccines.
For Cats:
Any cat that goes outside is at risk for contracting the Feline Leukemia Virus. This is a virus which is spread through grooming or sharing water bowls. Feline Leukemia is not a curable disease. We recommend an annual vaccine for Feline Leukemia for all outdoor cats.
For any cat that goes outside, owners should seriously consider vaccinating their cat for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This is similar to human HIV, but not transmissible from cats to humans. FIV is transmitted by the exchange of blood and some cats have been shown to pass the virus by sharing water bowls as well. Once a cat is vaccinated against FIV, he or she will test positive for the virus using the most commonly used tests available. For this reason, every cat receiving FIV should be tested for the virus first and microchipped when vaccinated. This will allow your cat to be linked to you, should he or she be picked up by an animal control officer. The FIV vaccine is boosted 3 times, 2-3 weeks apart and then yearly.
All cats, whether indoor or outdoor, need an upper respiratory vaccine annually. This vaccine is called FVRCP which stands for: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. This is a combination of upper respiratory viruses to which cats are extremely susceptible.
It is mandated by law that your pet be current with a Rabies vaccine. The law states that every rabies vaccine is to be a one year vaccine, regardless whether a 1 year or 3 year vaccines is used, unless a 3 year booster rabies vaccine is administered within 365 days. Then the vaccine and all subsequent vaccines are to be 3 year rabies vaccines.
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