Immunizations       DOG   CAT For Your Dog According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) there are two broad categories of vaccinations. Core Vaccines are those vaccines which every dog should receive, regardless of lifestyle and exposure to other dogs. These include rabies, distemper and parvovirus. The veterinarians at Clear Lakes Animal Wellness will discuss appropriate vaccine intervals for your dog, but do recommend these vaccines be given to every dog unless there are health concerns that make vaccination inappropriate.	IMMUNIZATIONS
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Non-Core Vaccines are those vaccines which may or may not be necessary since the diseases they prevent occur sporadically, are more common in specific circumstances, or are new or "emerging" diseases.

Bordatella or "kennel cough" Vaccine: This vaccine helps protect dogs against some forms of contagious bronchitis, and is recommended for dogs that stay in boarding facilities, go regularly to groomers, visit dog parks, attend dog shows or obedience classes, or frequently contact large numbers of dogs. Learn more about Kennel Cough.

Lyme Vaccine: Central New York is now considered an endemic area for ticks carrying Borrellia burgdorferii, the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. Any dog who may be exposed to ticks is at risk, as the ticks transmit the bacteria during feeding. Rural dogs as well as suburban dogs may come into contact with the deer tick. While effective tick control remains the cornerstone for reducing the risk of all tick-borne diseases you may elect to reduce the risk further by having your dog vaccinated against Lyme disease. Learn more about Lyme Disease and your dog.

Leptospirosis: This disease occurs in the northeastern United States sporadically, usually in the summer or fall, and is caused by various strains (serovars) of a bacteria. Infected dogs often have a fever, do not eat well, may vomit, and may suffer liver and kidney damage. This disease, even when treated, can be fatal. Infected dogs shed the bacteria in their urine, and humans can become infected by contact with contaminated ground water, soil, or animal urine. Some serovars are carried by raccoons or skunks, which means the disease is becoming more problematic in suburban areas. Other serovars are harbored by farm animals, deer and mice, and are therefore more common in rural areas. Currently, the recommended vaccine contains four serovars, and is initially administered twice at 3-4 week intervals, then annually. This newer vaccine has a lower risk of side effects than previous Leptospirosis vaccines

Risks: in general, vaccines may cause localized pain or swelling, low grade transient fever, allergic reactions such as swelling of lips and eyelids, and mild lethargy. With any vaccine, anaphylaxis (a potentially fatal hypersensitivity reaction) may occur. While there is no direct cause and effect relationship between vaccinations and certain immune-mediated diseases, this continues to be investigated.

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