Vaccinations

Young animals are like kids–it’s a never-ending job to keep them safe and happy. Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive but very important way to protect his or her health. In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife and those that can be passed to humans. It’s important to administer vaccinations when pets are puppies and kittens because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy.

While any medical treatment involves some degree of risk, in the case of vaccinations, the benefits far outweigh any potential side effects. Adverse reactions are rare and usually mild and short-term when they do occur.

Canine Vaccines

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines including Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus (DHP) and Rabies are administered as a series in puppies. These diseases are serious and may be fatal. FloridaWild recommends boosting these vaccines at 16 months and then every 3 years. We also offer titer testing before vaccination. As our patients age or if they face illness, vaccinations are limited or discontinued.

Non-Core Vaccines

Our non-core vaccines such as Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis and Lyme are given only when our patients may be exposed to these diseases.

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Feline Vaccines

PUREVAX, the Merial line of feline vaccines, is developed with state-of-the-art technology just for cats and kittens. PUREVAX vaccines deliver everything needed to induce immunity without any of the unnecessary proteins or adjuvants. Adjuvants are additives that increase the immune response and may present potential risks to feline patients, such as injection site reactions and chronic inflammation. PUREVAX is the only complete line of nonadjuvanted feline vaccines available.

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines including feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP) and Rabies are administered as a series in kittens. These diseases are serious and may be fatal. FloridaWild recommends boosting these at 16 months and then administering FVRCP every 3 years. Rabies vaccine is still recommended annually. As our patients age or if they face illness, vaccinations are limited or discontinued.

Non-Core Vaccines

Our non-core vaccine, Feline Leukemia is given only when our patient may be exposed to this disease.

It’s also important to note that even pets who live primarily indoors should be vaccinated, as they can still be exposed to a disease. Your FloridaWild Integrative Veterinary Center & Urgent Care veterinarian can advise you which vaccinations are required or recommended for your pet based on age, health, and lifestyle.

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Ferret Vaccines

Ferrets are highly susceptible to the Canine Distemper Virus. FloridaWild Integrative Veterinary Center & Urgent Care recommends a series of Distemper vaccines for kits and a Rabies vaccine at 16 weeks. After that, FloridaWild Integrative Veterinary Center & Urgent Care will design the appropriate vaccine schedule for your ferret.

Ferrets can have life threatening reactions to vaccines. In order to help prevent or treat any of these reactions, FloridaWild Integrative Veterinary Center & Urgent Care uses only Merial vaccines designed for ferrets. In addition, we ask ferret owners to stay in our hospital for 30 minutes after a vaccination. >90% of reactions occur in that period.

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Vaccines or Titers?

Should I continue to vaccinate my pet as they age?
What is the alternative to vaccinations?
Is it legal to withhold vaccines from my pet?

What is a Vaccine and What Problems Might They Cause?

A vaccine is a live, modified live, or killed virus that is introduced into the body to stimulate an immunologic response to disease. The core vaccination series is important to fully stimulate a young animal’s immune system against deadly diseases. Although, recent studies show that re-vaccination of these core vaccinations may not be necessary and could actually cause autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases or secondary complications.

What is a Titer?

A titer is a blood test that measures the immunologic response (antibody) to vaccination or exposure to disease. This will help determine if your pet’s immune response is appropriate for disease protection or if re-vaccination needs to occur.

Is this Legal?

If you choose not to vaccinate your pet, performing a titer level will check for appropriate immunity to core disease: Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus and Feline Distemper. A letter from your veterinarian can be written stating it is medically unnecessary to vaccinate. This testing should be repeated every three years. However, Rabies vaccine must be given to any pet that shows aggression to other pets or people.

Pet Vaccinations in DeLand, FL

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at (386)734-9899.