Distemper, a virus

Transmission of disease:
Aerosolized in droplet form, commonly from infected raccoons and foxes

Cycle of disease:
Within I week of exposure, will have an elevated temperature for 1 to 2 days.

Symptoms:
Fever, nasal and occular discharge, depression, anorexia, seizure, muscle tremors, paralysis, incoordination; can cause permanent CNS damage; 50% fatal.

Treatment:
Antibiotics to treat opportunistic infections, fluid therapy

Testing:
Not usually diagnostic, can be done on cerebrospinal fluid, most often done through  histopathology  post-mortem.

Type of Vaccine:

Vaccine Recommendation:
Beginning at 8 weeks of age, every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks old, then every 1 to 3 years, depending on social activity.

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Hepatitis / Adenovirus, a virus

Transmission of disease:
Oro-nasal, feces, urine

Cycle of disease:
4 to 8 days post-exposure the virus is well-replicated.  10 to 14 days post-exposure the virus localizes in kidneys and is excreted in the urine for 6 to 9 months

Symptoms:
Uveitis (inflammation of the iris), fever, CNS signs, anorexia, depression,  vomiting and diarrhea

Treatment:
Supportive and symptomatic care, rest

Testing:
Viral isolation, not often done.

Type of Vaccine:

Vaccine Recommendation:
Beginning at 8 weeks of age, every 3 to 4 weeks
until 16 weeks old, then every 1 to 3 years, depending on social activity.

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Parvovirus, a virus

Transmission of disease:
Fecal-oral; can last up to 5 months outside.

Cycle of disease:
Incubation of 3 to 7 days; last 7 to 10 days, most common in puppies

Symptoms:
Bloody diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, dehydration.

Treatment:
Fluid replacement, anti-nausea meds, antibiotics

Testing:
Cite test on stool antigen.

Type of Vaccine
Modified live

Vaccine Recommendation:
Beginning at 8 weeks of age, every 3 to 4 weeks until  16 weeks old, then every 1 to 3 years, depending on social activity.

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Leptospirosis, a bacterium

Transmission of disease:
Urine, especially around livestock, is transmissable to  humans.

Cycle of disease:
Symptoms within 6 to 11 days, can be fatal

Symptoms:
Anorexia, fever, vomiting, increased urination, bloody urine, anemia

Treatment:
Antibiotics, fluid therapy, possibly anti-pyretics

Testing:
Antigen titers, usually though diagnosis is made through urinalysis, complete blood panel, and rule-out

Type of Vaccine:
Modified live

Vaccine Recommendation:
Higher allergic potential than most K9 vaccines; beginning at 8 weeks of age, every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks old, then every 1 to 3 years, depending on social activity.

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Parainfluenza, a virus

Transmission of disease:
Highly contagious, air-borne

Cycle of disease:
Respiratory symptoms 5 to 7 days after exposure

Symptoms:
Persistent cough, fever

Treatment:
Cough suppressants, antibiotics to suppress opportunisitic infection

Testing:
Not usually done

Type of Vaccine:
Modified live

Vaccine Recommendation:
Beginning at 8 weeks of age, every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks old, then every 1 to 3 years, depending on social activity.

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*Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo, and Parainfluenza can conveniently be given in one vaccine. (Often, too with Corona - see below)

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Coronavirus, a virus

Transmission of disease:

Cycle of disease:
Incubation of 1 to 3 days, symptoms lasting a few days to 3 weeks

Symptoms:
Similar to mild parvo, generally fatal when in conjunction with parvo

Treatment:
Fluid therapy, if needed; anti-nausea meds

Testing:
Not standard

Type of Vaccine:
Modified live

Vaccine Recommendation:
Beginning at 8 weeks of age, every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks old, then every 1 to 3 years, depending on social activity.  May be less often in certain breeds.

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Bordatella bronchiseptica, a bacterium; aka - 'Kennel Cough'

Transmission of disease:
Oro-nasal

Cycle of disease:
Symptoms begin 5-7 days post-exposure, usually lasting about 2 weeks; can carry several months
Symptoms: cold-like with discharge from eyes and nose, tracheobronchitis, (pneumonia)

Treatment:
Antibiotics and cough suppressants

Testing:
Rarely done, usually diagnosed by physical symptoms and rule-out

Type of vaccine:
Modified-live, intranasal (most effective) or injectable

Vaccine Recommendation:
Every 6 months to 1 year, determined by contact with other dogs;

NOT 100% EFFECTIVE, BUT DOES HELP TO PREVENT

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Lymes (Borrelia burdorferi), a bacterium

Transmission of disease:
Through bites of specific species of ticks

Cycle of disease:
Incubation of 2 to 5 months

Symptoms:
Acute arthritis with lameness, fever, anorexia, swelling in joints, possibly swollen lymph nodes

Treatment:
Rest, antibiotics

Testing:
Culture of synovial (joint) fluid

Type of Vaccine:
Modified live

Vaccine Recommendation:
We do not recommend as efficacy of vaccine is questionable

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Rabies, a virus

Transmission of disease:
Saliva to blood, generally through bite wounds; often from infected raccoon, skunk, bat, or fox

Cycle of disease:
Incubation period of about 6 months, fatal within 7 to 10 days

Symptoms:
Erratic behavioral changes, incoordination, seizures, heavy salivation, paralysis, inability to swallow

Treatment:
None

Testing:
Antibody testing, post-mortem

Type of Vaccine:
killed

Vaccine Recommendation:
As required by California Law
Once at 16 weeks of age, then in 1 year, then every 3 years thereafter.


*Rabies is contagious to humans.  If an animal that bites a human is clinically normal 10 days after bite, then the person bitten should not contract rabies.  This does not mean that the animal doesn't have rabies, only that they are not shedding the virus.

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Giardia, a protozoan

Transmission:
Through infected water supply; often fresh, clear mountain water (streams)

Cycle of disease:
Not fully understood; cysts are ingested and mature into motile organisms, which attack the intestinal lining. Symptoms can occur days to months post-infection.

Symptoms:
Diarrhea, weakness

Treatment:
Antibiotics, anti-parasitics

Testing:
Microscopic fecal examination, immunofluorescence of feces

Type of vaccine:
Modified live

Vaccine Recommendation:
We do not recommend vaccination; effectiveness is highly questionable and the disease is not well understood (It is not well documented that giardia causes disease.)

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Herpes, a virus

Transmission of disease:
Direct or in urine/feces
Canine Herpes is not transmissible to humans.

Cycle of disease:
4 to 6 day incubation, death 12-13 hours later; fatal in puppies; clinical disease is rare if older than 3 or 4 weeks old

Symptoms:
Fever, extended lethargy, anorexia, agonizing crying, in adults - genital lesions

Treatment:
Not recommended, unsuccessful

Testing:
Not generally used; via necropsy

Type of Vaccine:
NONE

For our vaccine protocol, please visit: Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Dogs