Cat and Dog Vaccinations in Cooper City, FL

Cases of rabies are not as common among dogs and cats as they used to be, thanks to greater awareness and responsibility on the part of pet parents. The rabies virus targets the nervous system and is almost always fatal. Wildlife carriers of this disease include raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes. If you or your pet sustain a bite from one of these animals, seek medical attention immediately.

Dogs are among the many animals affected by distemper, a virus with a 50% mortality rate among adult canines and an 80% mortality rate in puppies. It can be spread via direct contact or exposure to airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing, or barking. Distemper affects multiple organ systems and can be shed by infected animals for months on end.

Bordetella, or kennel cough, is an upper respiratory bacterial infection that can spread quickly among dogs. The infection, characterized by a dry, hacking cough, is generally not life-threatening and can be treated with antibiotics. Due to its contagious nature, vaccination for Bordetella is typically required for dogs that are boarding, in daycare, visiting the groomer, or going to the dog park.

Leptospirosis is another bacterial infection that affects dogs, but without timely treatment, it can be much more serious because it may affect the liver and kidneys. Leptospirosis can also infect humans, and the bacteria that cause the illness can be found in damp soil, ponds, puddles, and sometimes even grass. Infected wildlife shed the bacteria in their urine, and if your dog comes into direct contact with it, they can be at risk for infection.

Signs of infection from leptospirosis include fever, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Canine influenza, or “dog flu,” isn’t all that different from human flu. There are two main strains for which our dog flu vaccine offers protection, H3N2 and H3N8. Dog flu causes coughing, a runny nose and eyes, fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Vaccination for this virus is often required by boarding kennels, groomers, dog parks, and dog daycare facilities.