Have you ever wondered what all of those abbreviations regarding your pets vaccinations mean? Here are the vaccination’s that your pet should be receiving from a licensed veterinarian, their abbreviations, and a brief explanation for why these vaccines are important to your pet.
Feline Vaccines
FVRCP: Commonly referred to as the feline distemper vaccine. The abbreviation stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Rhinotracheitis and calicivirus cause upper respiratory infections (sneezing, runny eyes and nose) while the panleukopenia virus may cause death in young kittens and severe diarrhea in older cats.
Rabies: This vaccination protects your pet from a serious viral infection that is spread through the saliva of infected animals.
FeLV: Feline Leukemia is commonly found in outdoor cat populations but indoor kittens are not completely safe as the disease can be passed from the kitten’s mother. Outdoor kittens contract the virus through coming in contact with infected oral/nasal secretions or urine from a contagious cat. The virus actually causes cancer of the bone marrow and lymph nodes. It’s very important to have your kitten tested for FeLV and then vaccinated if your kitten is considered at risk. Be aware that an outdoor cat vaccinated with the FeLV vaccine can still be a “carrier” and infect an indoor only cat that is not vaccinated.
Canine Vaccines
DA2PP: Commonly referred to as the canine distemper vaccine. This vaccine protects against Canine Distemper (neurological or brain disease), Adenovirus (liver disease), Parvovirus (severe intestinal damage), and Parainfluenza (respiratory disease).
Bordetella: This is also known as the “kennel cough” vaccine. This protects your dog against certain strains of contagious respiratory infections. The vaccine is typically required 10 days prior to boarding, grooming, starting dog daycare or obedience classes.
Rabies: This vaccination protects your pet from a serious viral infection that is spread through the saliva of infected animals.
Comments are closed.