Canine Influenza (CID) is a recently recognized viral upper respiratory infection of dogs that causes licking of lips, reverse sneezing, sneezing, coughing, fever and lethargy. It is contagious through saliva and nasal discharge directly or indirectly through the air or left on objects. Symptoms often occur 2-4 days after exposure.
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Being an indoor cat provides protection from many traumas, misadventures, parasites and diseases. But that protection isn't complete!
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Indoor cats do need some vaccines, even against Rabies! Their indoor status does mean they will be less likely to be exposed to some diseases, but that is not the same as protecting them.
Let's talk about Rabies first, because Rabies is a uniformly fatal disease that has no treatment and is transmitted to people by their pets. Rabies virus is transmitted generally by saliva to blood contact, most commonly by a bite wound. The virus enters the body and travels up nerves to infect the brain, effectively poking holes in the brain of the patient and causing death by encephalitis over 4-10 days. Rabies can be expressed in the dumb form- blankness, drooling, lack of expression or the mad form- drooling and blindly attacking/biting. The incubation time (from bite to sickness) can be days to months after the bite.
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Puppies should receive their first vaccination at 8 weeks of age. Vaccinations are repeated at 3-4 week intervals until the puppy is 12-16 weeks old.
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Kittens should receive their first vaccination at 8-10 weeks of age. Vaccinations are repeated at 3-4 week intervals until the kitten is 12-16 weeks old.
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