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With the holidays fast approaching it is easy to get wrapped up in piles of lists. “To Do” lists, grocery lists, holiday card lists, good lists, bad lists and guest lists. With all the lists it is easy to see why we do not stop the hustle and bustle to ask, “Are my dog’s vaccines up to date?”
Unfortunately, this year your four legged canine friend’s list of vaccine history is one of the most important lists you can double check. Recently, in the Milwaukee area and throughout the United States, there have been a record number of cases of dogs that have come down with canine distemper. At the Milwaukee Humane Society they lost twenty five dogs to the disease and had to temporarily suspend adoptions.
Canine Distemper is a virus that is easily transmitted and is always fatal. The virus infects various tissues in a dog’s body leading to symptoms such as, diarrhea, fever, nasal and ocular discharge, loss of appetite, and respiratory disease. Dogs can also exhibit neurologic signs such as muscle spasms and paralysis. Since Canine Distemper is caused by a virus, the infection cannot be treated and medical care is costly and limited to relieving the symptoms of the disease.
So why are we seeing more and more cases of distemper when it has been 25 years since the Milwaukee Humane Society last confirmed a case of Canine Distemper in their facility? The answer is simple. According to Ronald D. Schultz, Patholobiological Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 50% of all dogs in the U.S. never get vaccinated for Canine Distemper.
The doctors and staff here truly believe that our most valuable service to our patients and clients is disease prevention. We are asking our clients to double check that their dogs are protected from Canine Distemper and have followed our vaccine protocol to prevent this devastating disease. You can find this information by looking at the bottom of your receipts from our clinic or requesting a vaccine certificate. You also have access to your pet’s vaccine history through the internet if you have signed up for Pet Portal through the Forest Home Animal Clinic.
Even though thinking about vaccines can be overwhelming we are here to help. You can call us and we will be happy to check your pet’s records, mail you a vaccine certificate, or mail information on our vaccine protocols to your home. The Forest Home Animal Clinic abbreviates the Canine Distemper vaccine in one of three ways; dhpp, dhlpp, or dhlppc. If your records come from another clinic you can stop in and one of our employees can help you understand your dog’s level of protection.
So this holiday season please take a few minutes to make sure your best friend stays healthy and happy. The cliché “the best gift you can give is the gift of health” has never been truer for the dogs we love. |
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