"Dr. Salvo's Weekly Dose" Now on this Page!

Some of you may have noticed that Dr. Salvo's contribution to the column "Paws for a Moment" has been removed from the Wave.  For those of you who are just as disappointed as we are about having this valuable information removed from the community paper, worry not!  Dr. Salvo has still been writing, and has kindly agreed to let us post her weekly article, "Dr. Salvo's Weekly Dose" on our news blog.  We will also be printing out a few copies to put in the dog park for those who don't have regular internet access.  Thank you, Dr. Salvo, for insuring that Rockaway's pet owners are becoming better informed "pet parents"!  For the next few days, we will be posting past issues until we are caught up.  And now, without further delay, Dr. Salvo's weekly dose:

Shots Shots & More Shots!

I have received many questions about vaccines;     Which ones should my pet have? Does he need all of them at once? Every year?

Put your seat belts on….here we go!

* update on the Canine Influenza vaccine...read below*

Today there are many vaccines available on the market. Vaccines are given to our pets to facilitate a stronger immune system so that in the event of contagious disease exposure, our pets have a lessened severity of disease or infection is even prevented. Vaccines are divided into two groups, core and non-core. Core, meaning vaccines recommended for most pets by the American Veterinary Medical Association versus vaccines that are given to specific pets due to those pets specific lifestyle (non-core).

Choices! Choices!

Ok, not that we have a menu that you can pick and choose which vaccines…

How many shots or vaccines does your pet need? All of them? No. Half of them? Probably not….

There are many vaccines available, but not every pet needs every vaccine! Why? Each dog lives a different lifestyle. For instance, the cushy couch potato pooch versus the rugged Labrador that goes for a run on the beach, thru the trees, frequents his other dog friends at the park…both come in contact with different exposures in their life. Same with our feline friends…some like to go outside and others prefer to jump where they aren’t supposed to be ( usually a table or counter) and watch the world outside thru the window…again, different exposures.

So each pet’s lifestyle should always be taken into account when determining which vaccines are best for that specific pet.

Vaccines each and every year?

Well….there are some veterinarians that have done titers in the past. Titers measure where your pets immune system “is” in relation to immunity.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association there is NO ESTABLISHED CONFORMATION that a low titer makes a pet less vulnerable or a high titer confirms a pet to have better immunity against disease. So what do we do? We base our vaccine schedule on our pet’s lifestyle and need for specific vaccines.

Let’s talk numbers!

How many vaccines should our pets receive at one time? That depends…on age, breed, size, stress and past reactions. Yes, vaccines can cause allergic reactions, but it occurs infrequently and the chance of a reaction decreases by separating the vaccines out over multiple visits.

This means that the vaccines that have been determined to be best for that specific pet are not all given at the same visit. Age is a concern as younger pets may not have ever had vaccines before and their response to them is not yet known. Some breeds are more susceptible to allergic reactions to specific vaccines. Smaller pets can also be more at risk for having a reaction if multiple vaccines are given at once. 

Stress effects all of us, there is nothing that can replace gentleness and bedside manner…

working with a fearful animal can be challenging, but discussing distraction, handling and behavioral techniques with an owner makes the experience less stressful for the pet…which I believe is one of the most important factors of veterinary medicine.

We want our pets protected as best we can!  Vaccines are only one avenue of protection. Over vaccination is NOT the answer. Acknowledging that each pet has a different lifestyle with different exposure risks, spacing out vaccine administration for each pet and minimizing stress should always be the determinate of which vaccines we administer, when and how often.

* The American Veterinary Medical Association states that " The canine influenza vaccine is a "lifestyle" vaccine, and is NOT recommended for every dog. In general, the vaccine is intended for the protection of dogs at risk for exposure to the CI virus, which include those that either participate in activities with many other dogs or are housed in communal facilities, particularly where the virus is prevalent. "

Have a Happy and Safe Summer!

-Dr. Karina Salvo

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If you ever have any questions or concerns about your pet or their medications etc, please do not ever hesitate to call us at any time!

We want the best for our pets, and yours too...afterall, they are a part of the PawPrints family!

Best Regards,

Dr. Karina Salvo

PawPrints Animal Medical Centre PC

718-474-PAWS

We can treat sometimes, cure often and comfort always!