Importance of Vaccines

Rabies - Dogs & Cats

Guards against the Rabies Virus, which is ultimately deadly. It is contracted through the bite of an infected animal, and any mammal can contract Rabies, including humans, which is why it is required by most states, including Virginia, for all dogs and cats.

Distemper - Dogs

Rabies - Dogs & Cats

DHPP

Distemper
Adenovirus Types I &II
Parainfluenza
Parvovirus

Distemper: an airborne illness spread through respiratory secretions, which can eventually lead to death.
Adenovirus Types I and II, also called Canine Hepatitis: an illness spread through infected bodily fluids and can be fatal.
Parainfluenza: a contagious condition that causes coughing and breathing issues.
Parvovirus: a virus that puppies are especially susceptible to. Without treatment, 80% of infected puppies will die. Transmitted through infected feces, it can be present on a variety of surfaces for a very long time.

Bordetella - Dogs

Rabies - Dogs & Cats

Bordetella - Dogs

Guards against the Bordetella bacterial infection, commonly called Kennel Cough, bordetella is a common illness among dogs in kennels, boarding facilities, groomers, and any location where there are many dogs in a relatively small area. The major symptom is a dry, hacking cough, and can lead to secondary pneumonia in severe cases.

Distemper - Cats

Feline Leukemia - Cats

Bordetella - Dogs

FVRCC

Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper)
Rhinotracheitis
Calici Virus
Chlamydia Psittaci

Panleukopenia: commonly called Feline Distemper, is a virus spread through a variety of infected bodily fluids and feces and can be present on surfaces for a long time. It is highly contagious and is ultimately fatal.
Rhinotracheitis: an upper respiratory infection caused by the feline herpes virus. It is spread through direct contact with eye and nasal fluid and often passes from mother to kitten.
Calici Virus: a virus that causes upper respiratory infection among other symptoms, including ulcers. It can be airborne as well as spread through infected bodily fluids. It can be fatal.
Chlamydia Psittaci: an upper respiratory infection. It is spread through direct contact with infected fluids. It can be fatal, and it can spread to humans as conjunctivitis

Feline Leukemia - Cats

Guards against the retrovirus that causes Feline Leukemia. It is highly contagious and can be spread through saliva and nasal fluid, but also through urine and feces, and from an infected mother to her kittens. Infected cats can live months, even up to a few years with Feline Leukemia, but ultimately, the virus is fatal.

We offer the FIV/FeLV Snap Test if you would like to test your cat for FeLV prior to the vaccination. We do not require your cat to be tested to receive the vaccination. Read more below.

FIV/FELV COMBO TEST INFORMATION

We use the Idexx Laboratories FIV/FeLV Combo SNAP Test.

FIV stands for Feline immunodeficiency virus (the test detects antibodies).
FeLV stands for Feline leukemia virus (the test detects the antigen).

We will take a blood sample from your cat and run the test. It will give us results in 10 minutes, and we will alert you to any positive result. We do not call you if the test is negative for both FIV & FeLV unless you request it. Please make sure we have the phone number where you can be reached the day of surgery.

If your cat is positive for FIV or FeLV, you have two options:

You can request that we proceed with surgery & vaccinations as planned. (With the exception of the FeLV vaccine; we will not administer it if the cat is FeLV positive.)
Or, you can request that we humanely euthanize the cat for FeLV ONLY, FIV ONLY, or for both.

Please familiarize yourself with these illnesses in the case that your cat tests positive for them. We want your decision to be well-informed and not rushed should they test positive. Because we do not want to add more stress for the cat, we need the answer as quickly as possible. We have very limited time until the cat recovers from anesthesia.

FeLV is usually spread when an uninfected cat comes in contact with the saliva or urine of an infected cat-while they groom each other, for example, or when they share food bowls or litter boxes. FIV, on the other hand, is most often spread when an infected cat bites an uninfected cat. A human cannot become infected with FIV or FeLV through contact with an infected cat.

More About Feline Leukemia

More About FIV