Veterinarian Column: [Vaccine Questions] Is vaccination necessary every year?

It is very important to vaccinate your dog or cat to prevent them from contracting infectious diseases. However, vaccination not only has the advantage of preventing infectious diseases, but also has disadvantages such as allergic reactions that may occur due to vaccination. This time we will answer questions about vaccines for dogs and cats.

◎ What are the types of vaccines?

The number of diseases that a vaccine can prevent corresponds to the number of diseases it can prevent.

This means that five types of dogs can prevent five types of diseases.

◎ What kind of vaccines should I use?

dog vaccines

Vaccines that all dogs should receive regardless of their living environment

・Rabies

・Canine distemper virus

・Canine parvovirus type 2

・Canine adenovirus type 2

Vaccines required only for dogs that fit the living environment and lifestyle.

・Canine parainfluenza

・Leptospirosis

・Bordetella

cat vaccine

Vaccines that all cats should receive regardless of their living environment

・Feline panleukopenia virus

・Feline herpesvirus type 2

・Feline calicivirus

Vaccines required only for cats that fall into this category depending on their living environment and lifestyle.

・Feline leukemia virus

・Chlamydia

・Rabies

*It is determined that vaccination is necessary due to reasons such as living environment and lifestyle, such as group rearing, infectious disease outbreak area, outdoor rearing, etc.

The decision whether to vaccinate 5, 6 or 8 vaccines for dogs, or 3 or 5 vaccines for cats will depend on the living environment and lifestyle. Talk to your child's teacher and decide if your child needs it.

◎ What are the side effects of the vaccine?

It has been reported that the incidence of side effects after vaccination is 0.63 % in dogs and 1.25% in cats, of which the incidence of life-threatening anaphylactic symptoms is 0.072% in dogs and 0.019% in cats.

Types of side effects

Allergy, anaphylaxis, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, uveitis, systemic serum sickness, granuloma, encephalitis, polyradiculitis, cutaneous granuloma, sarcoma, fever, miscarriage, infertility, Congenital malformations , etc.

◎　Are vaccinations necessary every year?

In fact, it has been revealed that there is no significant difference in the effectiveness of vaccines whether booster vaccinations are given every year or every three years.

According to the vaccination guidelines of the World Association of Small Animal Veterinarians,

・Canine distemper virus

・Canine parvovirus type 2

・Canine adenovirus type 2

・Feline panleukopenia virus

・Feline herpesvirus type 2

・Feline calicivirus

・Feline leukemia virus

After administering these vaccines one year after the childhood series, we recommend additional vaccinations at three- year intervals (or more than three years depending on the type). The guidelines say to do it every three years, but sometimes children have no antibody titer when tested one year after vaccination. I think it is best to determine the vaccination interval after carrying out an antibody titer test, which will be explained later.

*Leptospirosis, canine parainfluenza, and chlamydia are vaccinated every year. Rabies vaccinations are required by law, so annual vaccinations are required.

This is a frequently asked question by owners of children who have had side effects from vaccines or who have allergies. In addition, vaccination certificates may be required every year for grooming, pet hotels, and dog runs, but it is not recommended to vaccinate children with strong immunity every year due to side effects. .

In such cases, there is a method called antibody titer testing. Blood is taken and tested to see if you have enough antibodies to protect against pathogens. If protection is possible, the antibody titer test results will serve as proof. If you have an antibody titer, it is safe to vaccinate at three -year intervals.

By testing, you can avoid unnecessary vaccinations, but if this test shows that there is no antibody titer, vaccination will be required. Please consult your local teacher.

Vaccines have not only advantages but also disadvantages such as side effects. Before getting vaccinated, understand the diseases that can be prevented, and be careful about any side effects after getting vaccinated. Additionally, if you have had side effects in the past or have a chronic illness such as allergies, we recommend that you consider an antibody titer test as one of your options.

References

Dog and Cat Treatment Guide

WASAVA Vaccination Guidelines