Pet Vaccinations Information

Yes! Vaccinations help protect your pet from a number of potentially serious and even fatal diseases, such as Rabies. Vaccines cost considerably less than the treatments available for the diseases that pets are normally vaccinated against. Even indoor dogs and cats should be vaccinated. In Ohio, it is a state law that these pets should be vaccinated against Rabies.

Although we cannot guarantee that a vaccine will fully protect an animal against a given disease, vaccines have proven to be the simplest and most effective method of preventing numerous diseases in our pets. Despite everyone’s efforts to design a safe vaccination protocol for your pet, vaccine reactions can and do occur. This is not common. Some of these reactions are mild (discomfort at the injection site, lethargy, or loss of appetite for a day). Some have more severe reactions, such as an allergic reaction or immunologic reaction. If your pet has reacted to a vaccine in the past, please inform us.

It is essential to administer vaccines only to healthy animals. If the animal is already suffering from an illness or receiving certain medications, its immune system may not be able to respond to the vaccine. That is why having your pet vaccinated by a veterinarian after a thorough wellness examination is so important.

Canine Distemper
Distemper is a serious viral disease affecting primarily young, unvaccinated dogs that can be fatal. Clinical signs include yellowish or greenish discharge from the eyes or nose, coughing, difficulty breathing, increased body temperature, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and nervous system disorders such as seizures or twitching of a limb. This disease is highly contagious, so prevention is the key. Vaccination has been shown to prevent the disease.

Canine Adenovirus type-1 and type-2
These viruses cause infectious hepatitis and respiratory infections, respectively. Hepatitis is a viral disease most common in young, unvaccinated dogs. Clinical signs may include respiratory tract abnormalities such as discharge from the nose or eyes, coughing, or evidence of liver and/or kidney disease such as jaundice, loss of appetite, and vomiting, to name a few. Adenovirus type 2 is an essential factor in kennel cough. Vaccination is crucial as hepatitis can be fatal.

Canine Bordetella/Kennel Cough
This bacterial infection can occur alone or in combination with distemper, adenovirus type-2 infection, parainfluenza, and other respiratory problems. Kennel cough is highly contagious and is spread through coughing, sneezing, and contact with infected nasal secretions. It is transmitted when dogs are put in close proximity to one another, such as in dog parks, boarding, or grooming. It is a requirement for boarding and grooming at the Animal Hospital of Tiffin. We offer both an oral and an injectable form of this vaccine and will choose which is most appropriate at the time of your appointment.

Canine Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that may lead to permanent kidney damage. Clinical signs may include loss of appetite, lethargy, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. Wild and domestic animals may act as reservoirs for infection. This disease is easily spread to other pets and humans, which makes vaccination key to keeping your pets and your family healthy.

Canine Parainfluenza
This is another cause of kennel cough. Although parainfluenza is often a mild respiratory infection in otherwise healthy dogs, it can be severe in puppies or debilitated dogs.

Canine Parvovirus
Parvo is a serious disease affecting primarily young dogs (6 weeks to 6 months), although any age can be affected. Parvovirus is a hardy virus that can withstand extreme temperature changes and exposure to most disinfectants. Dogs contract the disease through exposure to infected dogs or infected stool. Clinical signs include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. The diarrhea is often bloody and has a foul odor. Some dogs develop a fever. If left untreated, parvo can be fatal. It is essential to complete your entire series of puppy shots to prevent this disease.

Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Rabies is transmitted by saliva, which is generally transferred from a bite. This disease is often found in wild animals such as skunks, raccoons, and bats. Once infected, the disease is always fatal. As the virus can be transmitted to humans, no stray dog, cat, or wild animal should be approached. Vaccination is vital in protecting your pet from this disease. In Ohio, a state law requires your pets to be vaccinated against rabies. Once vaccinated, you will receive a rabies tag to place on your pet’s collar and a rabies vaccination certificate to keep for future reference.

Canine Coronavirus
This is a highly contagious intestinal disease causing vomiting and diarrhea in dogs of all ages. Especially in young puppies, dehydration from coronavirus infection can be life-threatening. Coronavirus is often seen in conjunction with or leading to parvovirus infections.

Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete and spread by ticks. It is a serious disease in pets and people. Clinical signs in dogs include lameness, joint swelling, fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. The heart, brain, and kidneys may also be affected. We have seen some new Lyme disease cases in recent years and are recommending vaccination of at-risk pets (any pet that can be exposed to ticks). The tick that carries Lyme Disease is called the Deer Tick and is so small it is very difficult to see with the naked eye. Just because you don’t see a tick doesn’t mean your pet can’t be bitten by one.

Canine Influenza
Canine Influenza is a relatively recent disease. Typically, it is seen in outbreaks in larger cities. Most recently, it was seen in Toledo and Columbus in the Fall of 2017. Because of our close proximity to these cities and the number of pets that travel with their owners, we now offer this vaccination. The disease typically causes coughing, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, fever, inappetence, and lethargy. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia and be fatal. The vaccine is a killed vaccine, which means it will not cause flu-like symptoms in dogs as it does in humans, but it does require a booster shot.