Vaccination
Animals should be vaccinated to prevent infectious and non-infectious diseases. Some of these diseases can also be transmitted to humans, therefore vaccination is a major step in maintaining the public health. A vaccination does not guarantee the possibility of not getting a particular infection but it reduces the chances of getting infected or the chances of an animal or human getting any severe signs and symptoms.
Vaccines are either considered infectious or non infectious in nature. Most infectious vaccines contain organisms that reduce the virulence. For eg, modified live virus vaccines, attenuated vaccines or recombinant vaccines and these can be administer via different routes like sub-cutaneous, intranasal, oral, etc. Non-infectious vaccines are killed or inactivated vaccines. These vaccines also include sub-unit and naked DNA vaccines. These vaccines are usually administered parenterally only.
Vaccination guidelines for dogs-
Guidelines are available for core and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are the recommended vaccines and non core vaccines are optional. The core and non core vaccines can change depending on the country of residence.
Core vaccines protects puppies and dogs against canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (type 1 and 2), canine parvovirus (CPV-2) and its variants. Some countries may recognise some more vaccines as core in addition to these vaccines depending upon the epidemiology of diseases in their area, climate, etc. The rabies virus vaccine is considered as core vaccine only in some countries and India is one of them.
Non-core vaccines can be finalised on the basis of the life-style and geographical status of an animal.
| Vaccine | Initial puppy vaccination | Initial adult vaccination | Re-vaccination |
| Canine Parvo Virus, Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Adenovirus | At 6-8 weeks of age
Repeat every 2-4 weeks till 16 weeks of age |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | At 6 months or 1 year of age
Repeat every year (In India) |
| Rabies vaccine | First dose at 12 weeks of age
Repeat after 2-4 weeks in a high risk country |
Only one dose is required | Repeat every year or every 3 years depending on the regulations in your country |
| Parainfluenza virus | First dose at 6-8 weeks of age
Repeat every 2-4 weeks till 16 weeks of age |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Repeat annually |
| Bordatella bronchiseptica | A single dose at 3 weeks of age | A single dose only | Repeat annually |
| Borrelia burgdorferi | First dose at 12 weeks of age
Repeat after 2-4 weeks |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Repeat annually |
| Leptospira interrogans | First dose at 8 weeks of age
Repeat after 2-4 weeks |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Repeat annually |
| Canine influenza | First dose at 6 weeks of age
Repeat after 2-4 weeks |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Repeat annually |
Vaccination guidelines for cats-
Feline vaccination also includes core and non-core vaccines. The core vaccines for protection against diseases in cats include feline panleukopaenia (FPV), Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV). Some countries also consider the rabies vaccine as a core vaccine.
| Vaccine | Initial kitten vaccination | Initial adult vaccination | Re-vaccination |
| Feline parvovirus | First dose at 6-8 weeks of age
Repeat every 2-4 weeks till 16 weeks of age |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Repeat annually |
| Feline Herpesvirus-1 | First dose at 6-8 weeks of age
Repeat every 2-4 weeks till 16 weeks of age |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Re-vaccinate after a year and then repeat once every 3 years |
| Feline Calicivirus | First dose at 6-8 weeks of age
Repeat every 2-4 weeks till 16 weeks of age |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Re-vaccinate after a year and then repeat once every 3 years |
| Rabies | First dose at 12 weeks of age | Single dose | Re-vaccination according to the local requirements |
| FeLV | First dose at 8 weeks of age
Repeat after 3-4 weeks |
Two doses 3-4 weeks apart | Annually or once in 2-3 years depending upon the local possibilities of exposure |
| Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus | First dose at 8 weeks of age
Repeat twice. Each time 2-4 weeks apart |
Three doses 2-4 weeks apart | Annually if required |
| Chlamydia felis | First dose at 9 weeks of age
Repeat after 2-4 weeks |
Two doses 2-4 weeks apart | Annually if required |
| Bordetella bronchiseptica | Single dose at 4 weeks of age | Single dose | Annually if required |
| Feline Infectious Peritonitis | First dose at 16 weeks of age
Repeat after 3-4 weeks |
Two doses 3-4 weeks apart | Repeat annually |