EPISODE 2 | VACCINES
PHARMACY MEET YOUR Wondering what a medication is for?
Vaccine Theory We want to make sure we are timing the vaccines appropriately. Puppy/kitten vaccines should be started at 7-8 weeks of age and boosted every 3-4 weeks. We want to make sure we are boosting them as their mom’s antibodies are decreasing. They get their mom’s antibodies from their mom’s milk. We are increasing their antibodies with vaccines. We would like them to be vaccinated through the ages of 15 to 17-weeks old, regardless of the number of vaccines they received in the past. Booster Series: • Adult booster series is usually a 2 to 4-week booster schedule. • Puppies booster series is usually 3 to 4-week booster schedule. Vaccine Reactions: Usually rare but they do happen • Symptoms in dogs can be a swollen face, difficulty breathing, GI upset like vomiting or diarrhea. • If they have a swollen face or difficulty breathing we would want them to come in for a Benadryl shot or a steroid shot or both. • If severe, they may need fluids. • Cats can get GI upset or become lethargic.
• DHPP Vaccine – Can also be called DAPP which is the same exact thing. Includes: Canine Distemper Virus, Adenovirus (Hepatitis Virus), Parainfluenza, Parvovirus. One of the first vaccines puppies get at about 8 weeks of age. • Leptospirosis Vaccine: Highly recommend this annual vaccine. A very serious condition; if a dog gets infected, it can cause kidney failure. It can also be transmitted to people. The bacteria are spread by infected urine from raccoons, foxes, coyotes and other wildlife which is usually found in soil and water. • Bordetella Vaccine: Highly recommended. This is given to puppies in the form of an oral vaccine. They get boosted with an injectable vaccine. Bordetella is commonly referred to as kennel cough, kind of like saying your dog has a cold. Even if a dog has had the vaccine, they may still come down with some other respiratory disease. • CIV Vaccine is the influenza vaccine. This is given as a booster series. Give one shot and then boost again in 2 to 4-weeks. • Rabies: The only vaccination that is regulated by our county to make sure all pets are vaccinated. Rabies is carried by different wildlife. The most common rabies here is carried by skunk, as well as raccoons, bats and that sort of animal. Rabies can be transmitted to people through a bite from a dog and can be fatal. One vaccine is given as a puppy usually at the end of their vaccine series between 15 and 17-weeks of age. It is a year long vaccine. After that, they will get a 3 year vaccine. • Rattlesnake Vaccine: We give this to dogs that are at a high risk of getting bit by a rattlesnake. It is an optional vaccine. This vaccine does not make the dog immune to a bite, so if they are bit by a rattlesnake they need to come in as an emergency and be given the anti-venin, and we still treat them like any other dog. Hopefully the vaccine reduces the severity of the bite and they will recover quicker. It is the most reactive of our vaccines (i.e., causing a short-lived lump at the vaccine site), these lumps will usually resolve on their own. • FVRCP Vaccine is a core vaccine for cats commonly referred to as the feline distemper vaccine. It is a 3-way vaccine. Rhinotracheitis (Herpes virus), Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (Parvovirus). Give to all kittens through 15 to 17-weeks of age. It will turn into a 3-year vaccine. • Feline Leukemia Vaccine Given to at-risk cats that run outside or in multi-cat household. The only way a cat can catch this is by interaction with another cat, or anything from sharing a water bowl, sharing a food bowl, grooming each other or mating. it is not airborne. This is boosted on a yearly basis.
Watch these informative videos of Dr. Sam explaining the medications we use in our hospital and how they help our patients feel better.
EPISODE 1 | COMMON DRUGS
• Apoquel is a medication used for dogs to manage itchiness caused by allergies. Can be used long-term. • Cefpodoxime is an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat skin infections in dogs. • Clavamox is an antibiotic that is commonly used in dogs and cats to treat infections, which may include urinary, respiratory, or skin infections. • Fluoxetine is an anti-anxiety medicine used to treat anxiety in dogs. It is generic Prozac. • Gabapentin is commonly used in dogs as a pain medication. It is used more often for chronic pain like arthritis or back pain. Works well with other pain medications. • Metronidazole is a gastrointestinaal (GI) antibiotic. Great to treat diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, or infections. • Rimadyl is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, that’s used to reduce pain and inflammation (soreness) due to osteoarthritis and surgery in dogs. It is the dog version of Ibuprofen. Dogs like that it is chewable. • Carprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to reduce pain and inflammation (soreness) due to osteoarthritis and pain following surgery in dogs. It is the generic form of Rimadyl, but it does not come in a chewable form.
Veterinary pharmacies play a vital role in ensuring medication safety. They have stringent quality control measures in place to guarantee that the medications they dispense are of the highest quality.
Medications that do not need a prescription or Dr. approval
• FortiFlora is a probiotic supplement. Helps improve gut flora and helps with diarrhea. • Bravecto is for flea and tick prevention. It is a prescription, but it is okay to give owner without consulting the doctor. Make sure to take the correct dosage. Comes in 1 month and 3-month versions. • Aurocin Ear Cleanser works to enhance ear health while cleaning the ear canals of canines.
Golden Paws Animal Hospital | Pharmacy Education
Golden Paws Animal Hospital | Pharmacy Education
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