Core Vaccinations in a Nutshell

Core Vaccinations protect against viruses that are everywhere.  These viruses often produce a disease that is fatal or difficult and expensive to treat.  All dogs or cats are at risk and every dog and cat should be given their respective core vaccination.

                              Dog
        Annual Core Vaccine (DHPP)

             Distemper

• Fatal disease second only to Rabies that has no effective treatment.
• Any dog is at risk, although about half of all dogs are some what immune.
• Dogs develop an eye and nose discharge that progresses to pneumonia, diarrhea, and brain disease.
• Treatment is symptomatic, expensive and often futile.
• Prognosis is poor.

             Hepatitis

• Debilitating, often fatal, disease that is expensive and frustrating to diagnose and treat.
• All dogs are at risk.
• Dogs may have a fever, as well as vomitting, diarrhea, and jaundice. 
• Treatment is symptomatic, expensive, and may be extensive in survivors.
• Prognosis is guarded to poor.

             Parainfluenza

• Contagious upper respiratory disease like the flu. Usually not fatal.
• Any dog is at risk, although those that interact with other dogs are at greater risk.
• Dogs will may have a fever and a persistent cough which can progress to pneumonia.
• Treatment is symptomatic and antibiotics may prevent pneumonia.
• Prognosis is fair to good

            Parvovirus

• Fatal, extremely graphic, and nasty disease.
• All dogs are at risk.
• Dog will have sudden and severe bloody vomiting and diarrhea which is often fatal.
• Treatment is intense and expensive and may involve blood transfusions.
• Prognosis is poor.

                      Cat
        Annual Core Vaccine (RCP) 
  
                   Rhinotracheitis

• Upper respiratory disease that severely depresses appetite.
• Young cats most at risk, although any age cat can be affected. 
• Cats develop a nasal discharge that prevents them from smelling (cats won't eat what they can't smell!) and can progress to pneumonia.
• Treatment is often successful but may be costly.
• Prognosis is fair to good.

.               Calicivirus 

• Disease affecting the tongue and lungs, and makes eating difficult.
• Young cats most at risk, although any age cat can be affected. 
• Cats develop ulcers on the tongue (hurts to eat and swallow) that progresses to the lungs causing pneumonia.
• Treatment is often successful but may be costly.
• Prognosis is fair to good.

             Panleukopenia

• Often fatal disease that is similar to "Parvo" in dogs.
  
• Any age cat can be affected, although adults have higher survival rates.
• Cats run a high fever and have vomiting and diarrhea.  Their white blood cells (that fight infection) are wiped out. The onset is rapid and commonly fatal.
• Treatment is symptomatic, expensive and often unsuccessful
• Prognosis is poor.