At Home Vet -Practice Philosophy
Our philosophy at your At Home Vet is to treat each pet as an individual. Our goal is to practice high quality medicine in the comfort of your home. We will always examine your patient gently and thoroughly, and devise the best treatment plan possible, individualized for you and your pet. Practicing medicine is an art, and it takes time, focus and compassion. We promise to treat your pet as if it were one of our own.
At Home Vet - Vaccine Philosophy
My vaccine philosophy stems from my practice philosophy, which is to treat each pet as an individual. There has been a lot of debate within the news (and among veterinarians) about the best interval at which to vaccinate pets. Vaccines are crucial to our and our pet's health, but need to be treated with respect because, like any other drug, they can have side effects and cause adverse reactions.
Based on the most current information which I have reviewed, I have decided to recommend in general vaccination with "core vaccines", that is, the vaccines for the worst diseases, (i.e., diseases which cause significant disease and/or death and which are difficult to treat successfully). My vaccine protocol is as follows.
Puppies and Dogs: I vaccinate twice after 8 weeks of age, preferably at a 3 week intervals, against Distemper, Parvo virus, Hepatitis, and Parainfluenza (DHPP). For certain breeds, such as Rottweilers, Dobermans and American Staffordshires, I may recommend a third Distemper/Parvo vaccine, as these dogs are particularly susceptible to Parvovirus.
I usually vaccinate against Kennel Cough at 9 weeks of age, especially in small breed dogs, though do not always recommend vaccination for larger breed, adult dogs unless required by a boarding or grooming facility.
We also offer the Leptospirosis vaccine for some pets. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease (a disease that can spread from animals to humans), so vaccinating against Lepto can be important, especially in dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors or if there is an immuno-suppressed person in the house.
Rabies is given once, anytime after 12 weeks of age. I recommend boosting these vaccines at 1 year. After the 1-year vaccines, dogs will receive the DHPP and the Rabies every 3 years, and, if exposed to large groups of dogs or boarded, the vaccine against Kennel cough yearly. I do not vaccinate against Coronavirus.
Kittens and Cats: I vaccinate against the upper respiratory series Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (FVRCP). This vaccine is given any time after 8 weeks of age, and then again approximately 3-4 weeks later. Rabies I give once anytime after 12 weeks of age. The Feline Leukemia (FeLV) vaccine I recommend for outdoor cats only, and if it is to be given, I vaccinate twice, three weeks apart any time after 9 weeks of age. The FVRCP and Rabies I repeat at 1 year of age, and then every 3 years. If it is to be given, FeLV needs to be repeated yearly for it to be effective. I do not vaccinate against Chlamydia (because it can be cured with antibiotics), or FIP or Ringworm (as these vaccines do not have great efficacy.)
An older house pet might not require vaccines at all (excepting Rabies), whereas a show pet might need vaccination more frequently. I also offer vaccine titers as a tool to measure immunity should you wish to vaccinate even less frequently than every three years. (Titers tell us the levels of protective antibodies your pet has in its blood, i.e. how well your pet is currently protected against the disease in question). Some vaccines may provide protection (in the form of antibodies) that lasts as long as six to seven years, and so if we can test your pet and document immunity, there is no need to revaccinate, thus avoiding the potential for adverse reactions.
Unfortunately, there is no one easy answer as to "what is the best", but with careful consideration we can usually decide on a plan for each particular patient. We want what is best for them!
Dr. Hanna and some helpers