To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate - Exposure factors, age and general health is the real question.
Vaccinations are used as a means of providing both humans and animals with a basis of immunity against certain diseases. If even for just a short period of time, the body has more protection due to the antibodies its immune system has created in response to the vaccination.
Vaccinations are in important step in building your pet’s immunity from kitten or puppyhood on. While vaccinations are important, it is also important to have a basic knowledge about properly vaccinating so as not to overload an animal’s immune system. It is also beneficial to provide your animal with proper lengths of time between vaccinations to allow the body’s immune system to bounce back.
When deciding on a proper vaccination protocol for your pet, factors such as age, health, exposure and potential allergies should all come in to play.
It is important for puppies to be vaccinated against things such as Distemper, Parvovirus, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, Bordatella and of course, Rabies Virus. Kittens should be vaccinated for things such as Rhinotracheitis, Calici Virus, Parainfluenza, Feline Leukemia Virus and Rabies.
Recognizing geographical location and direct environmental influences such as warmer climates, living in urban, suburban or farm settings, and exposure to other animals who may be infective are all things to consider when vaccinating a pet.
The health and age of your pet should also come into play, a pet who is in their puppy or kitten stages may be in better health and be at a stage in their lives where more vaccinations may be necessary. It is also important to remember some pets may have allergies to certain vaccinations. Generally it is not the vaccination itself but the adjuvant used in the vaccination. Accommodations can be made for pets with allergies.
While many people are starting to question or even stray away from vaccinations, this day and age, it is imperative to remember that many diseases have been eradicated from the pet population (for the most part) largely due to the use of vaccinations.
Using a vaccination protocol, checking titers and aiding your pet’s immune system with natural supplements and essential oils will all help in keeping your pet protected against deadly diseases and ensure their longevity.
For information on any of the diseases previously listed, vaccination protocols and the use of supplements and essential oils, please contact us here at MaRiLa Veterinary Clinic 608-798-1887
Otitis Externa and Otitis Media in the Canine and Feline
Otitis externa = "bad ears"
Simple Otitis externa is resolved without much treatment but an ongoing search for the inciting cause. More often than not the basis for otitis externa is allergy to either environment antigens or food antigens.
Environmental allergens are diagnosed by dermal skin tests or by blood draw. The allergens are region specific so often the area of the country the pet lives in is taken into acoount.
Food allergy can be diagnosed by food elimination and the more controversial blood test. We use both at Marila Veterinary clinic however with introduction of Royal Canin Ultimo which shortens the food elimination trial period to several weeks only this is are new route for diagnosis.
Pets can have a combination of both.
Anal sacs impaction tends to be present in the pet as well. The worst the allergy, the worse the anal sacs problems. Although some encourage removal of the anal sacs the surgery is no without potential complications. The worst being anal sphincter laxity. This can be permanent.
Simple otitis externa is diagnosed with a ear swab that is looked under a microscope. It reveals bacteria, white cells, maslassezia or yeast or little debris at all. This directs the options for ear care.
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