MunasG
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Hi all, as i mentioned in my other post today, Nellie's long time sitter has fallen ill recently and can no longer walk her and give her her meds during the day and when am away. I have tried to find a replacement but can't seem to find anyone who is available during the times she needs her meds and for the long term. My only option is daily dog daycare. The problem with that is since her diagnosis, the vets have advised it will not be a good idea to vaccinate her. But day cares require vaccines. So i wrote to them asking again if they would recommend some vaccines versus other and am still conflicted and not sure what to do. This is the specialist's response to me today. What would you guys do?
"Hi Muna,
Thanks very much for your message.
Excellent question about vaccination. As with all things, vaccination is always a balance - I'm neither a "provaxxer" or "antivaxxer". The risk and benefit to each patient must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In Nellie's case, she has a significant and severe immune-mediated disease, which is highly volatile in its reactivity to different immune stimuli. Therefore, vaccination is not ideal - but then again, neither are the diseases for which she would normally be vaccinated. I'll address each of the 4 major vaccines on their own:
- DA2PP ("core"): this protects for distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and panleukopenia. Of these 4, parvovirus continues to be a common, severe, clinically significant disease - the other 3 are not. She has already been vaccinated for parvovirus in the past, so she already has some protection. This would be a vaccine that the kennel may require, and I would sympathize with that requirement (a parvovirus outbreak would be horrendous). But in my personal dog, I would not vaccinate in this particular case - given the low risk of disease present.
- Rabies ("core"): Rabies is a very rare, but universally fatal disease. As you know, it's quite well-known. Ontario used to be a North American "hotspot" for rabies, but aggressive vaccination has limited this quite a lot. I certainly vaccinate my dogs for rabies, although the risk of disease is close to none, especially in a patient that's been vaccinated before. For example, I am vaccinated for rabies (all veterinary professionals are), but I don't get re-vaccinated every year - I simply get a titre done instead. I would encourage you to get a titre done to demonstrate rabies vaccine efficacy, and the kennel may only require this (in which case, great news). However, it is important to state that public health will NOT recognize a rabies titre as "proof of vaccination", IF Nellie were to bite someone. However, there is now a 3-year vaccine (rather than annual) which may save you some trips and save Nellie from unnecessary immune stimulation.
- Leptospirosis ("non-core"): Leptospirosis is a somewhat common, severe disease with "outbreak" potential. It is carried by raccoons and skunks and causes a severe liver and kidney failure, which is often fatal. I do vaccinate all of my dogs for this disease, and in Nellie's case, I believe the benefits outweight the risks. That said, the kennel likely will not require you to vaccinate for lepto.
- Bordetella ("non-core"): This vaccinates for "kennel cough". The disease is present and common, and of these diseases, it is the most likely for Nellie to contract at the kennel. However, the vaccine is the least effective of all of these (somewhere between 40-60%), and the disease is these least severe of all of these (a self-limiting "whooping cough" that generally lasts for 1-2 weeks and is treatable with antibiotics if required). I do not vaccinate my own dog for this disease.
Hope this answers some questions.
All the best,
Dr GreenWood"
"Hi Muna,
Thanks very much for your message.
Excellent question about vaccination. As with all things, vaccination is always a balance - I'm neither a "provaxxer" or "antivaxxer". The risk and benefit to each patient must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In Nellie's case, she has a significant and severe immune-mediated disease, which is highly volatile in its reactivity to different immune stimuli. Therefore, vaccination is not ideal - but then again, neither are the diseases for which she would normally be vaccinated. I'll address each of the 4 major vaccines on their own:
- DA2PP ("core"): this protects for distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and panleukopenia. Of these 4, parvovirus continues to be a common, severe, clinically significant disease - the other 3 are not. She has already been vaccinated for parvovirus in the past, so she already has some protection. This would be a vaccine that the kennel may require, and I would sympathize with that requirement (a parvovirus outbreak would be horrendous). But in my personal dog, I would not vaccinate in this particular case - given the low risk of disease present.
- Rabies ("core"): Rabies is a very rare, but universally fatal disease. As you know, it's quite well-known. Ontario used to be a North American "hotspot" for rabies, but aggressive vaccination has limited this quite a lot. I certainly vaccinate my dogs for rabies, although the risk of disease is close to none, especially in a patient that's been vaccinated before. For example, I am vaccinated for rabies (all veterinary professionals are), but I don't get re-vaccinated every year - I simply get a titre done instead. I would encourage you to get a titre done to demonstrate rabies vaccine efficacy, and the kennel may only require this (in which case, great news). However, it is important to state that public health will NOT recognize a rabies titre as "proof of vaccination", IF Nellie were to bite someone. However, there is now a 3-year vaccine (rather than annual) which may save you some trips and save Nellie from unnecessary immune stimulation.
- Leptospirosis ("non-core"): Leptospirosis is a somewhat common, severe disease with "outbreak" potential. It is carried by raccoons and skunks and causes a severe liver and kidney failure, which is often fatal. I do vaccinate all of my dogs for this disease, and in Nellie's case, I believe the benefits outweight the risks. That said, the kennel likely will not require you to vaccinate for lepto.
- Bordetella ("non-core"): This vaccinates for "kennel cough". The disease is present and common, and of these diseases, it is the most likely for Nellie to contract at the kennel. However, the vaccine is the least effective of all of these (somewhere between 40-60%), and the disease is these least severe of all of these (a self-limiting "whooping cough" that generally lasts for 1-2 weeks and is treatable with antibiotics if required). I do not vaccinate my own dog for this disease.
Hope this answers some questions.
All the best,
Dr GreenWood"
