There's one pet care routine as familiar to generations of dog and cat owners as daffodils in the spring: Yearly shots. But it may surprise many that these annual needlings are no longer necessary for most pets.
The vaccinations that have prevented millions of deaths in cats, dogs and even people (in the case of rabies) are now governed by guidelines that stretch out the time between shots. Driven by a greater knowledge of potentially deadly reactions and the development of better vaccines with longer-term immunity, veterinary experts now recommend giving fewer vaccines less often, and tailoring those shots to address the most likely risks faced by each individual dog and cat.
"For years vaccinations were thought to be relatively innocuous," notes my colleague Dr. Link Welborn, a Tampa, Fla., board-certified specialist in dog and cat care who has headed the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) task force on canine vaccinations. "More vaccines was thought to be better than none. But there's no medication that is not without potential for side effects. Vaccines are medications, and it's important to think of them that way."
The changes were triggered by the realization that in some pets, the negative reaction to an annual shot wasn't a day of just not feeling right. In a small but significant number of cats, the problem was more deadly: cancer.
"That really was the impetus for the changes," says Dr. Welborn. "We were causing a life-threatening disease by vaccinating. The potential for feline sarcomas raised the level of concern."
The changes were controversial at first. Serious adverse vaccine reactions were rare, and some veterinarians argued that not having a reason to bring a pet in for the examinations that went with vaccinations would lead to suffering and even death from diseases if not caught early. Others believed that the changes -- and the reasons behind them -- would lead to confusion and fear in pet owners. If pets didn't get vaccines at all, they argued, the life-saving benefits that far outweigh the risks would be lost, and pets would die of once-common deadly diseases few veterinarians see routinely anymore, such as canine distemper.
But veterinary schools and colleges, and groups like AAHA and the American Academy of Feline Practitioners, pressed on. The result: New guidelines for giving a series of vaccinations to initiate disease resistance in kittens and puppies, followed by fewer "core" vaccines at longer intervals for adult dogs and cats.
The idea is that pets should get as many vaccines as they need but no more than that. The core vaccines protect against those diseases that are potentially more serious and that are everywhere that animals can be exposed to even without direct contact. The non-core vaccines are determined by the potential for exposure -- indoor cats, for example, have fewer risks.
Because of the deadly threat of rabies to human health, vaccinations for this disease are handled differently. Rabies vaccination is regulated by law, and almost all states now recognize a three-year cycle as mandatory for dogs, and highly recommended for cats. (Local governments may have stricter requirements, including mandatory rabies vaccinations for cats.)
For those pet owners who think vaccinating at three-year intervals can be a money-saver: well, yes and no. What is likely the most important part of preventive care is a regular examination by a veterinarian -- twice a year is recommended by many veterinarians, who note that they don't want to diminish the value of preventive-care visits just because animals are not being vaccinated as often.
In other words, what's the benefit of decreasing the risk of vaccinations if the benefits of catching other health problems early are ignored? Good preventive care that both saves money and prevents suffering and early death still requires seeing your veterinarian regularly. This remains true even if your pet doesn't have to see a needle on most of those visits.
Q&A
Your bird's 'house'
needs to be perfect
Q: We bought a little parrot off Craigslist, but the cage he came with seems very small. Do you have advice on cages?
A: Nothing is as important to your parrot's health and happiness as his cage. And yes, you've guessed it: The bigger the better. Your small parrot will be far happier in a cage designed for a larger bird. If you can afford it, go even bigger, but make sure the bar spacing isn't so wide that your pet can get his head caught.
Look for smooth welds and no paint chipping. Your bird will be working as best he can to destroy his cage, so you don't want him breaking off any toxic pieces. After that, look for cages designed to make cleanup easier, such as skirting to catch falling mess and trays that make paper-changing easier.
Position the cage against a wall, far enough away from a window, so that direct sun rays don't fall on your bird and possibly overheat him, since he cannot escape. Putting the cage near (as opposed to next to) a window so your bird can see outside isn't a bad idea, though, especially if the window overlooks a changing panorama that can help keep your pet entertained.
Although the kitchen may seem like an ideal place for your bird's cage, the potential for your bird to breathe deadly fumes, such as those from overheated nonstick cookware, is too high. These fumes can kill your bird before you even realize there's a problem.
After choosing the location, set up the cage. Two or three well-chosen toys are a must to keep your bird busy. Use a variety of natural (cleaned tree branches) and store-bought perches, and be sure to position them so they aren't directly over food and water dishes. You don't want to encourage your bird to poop into his dishes.
You can help your bird conquer his anxiety by putting the new cage next to the old one for a few days, if possible, so your bird can observe it before you move him. -- Gina Spadafori
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
THE BUZZ
Dogs and cats say
'I do' to roles in weddings
-- Following the lead of actress Tori Spelling and singer Carrie Underwood, humans are increasingly involving pets in their weddings -- as best man, flower girl, or other member of the wedding party. According to The Wall Street Journal, WeddingOutlet.com reported a 28 percent increase in wedding accessories for pets from 2009 to 2010. One Los Angeles-based trainer charges $2,500 per wedding event, and prices increase if more pets or travel are involved, or if a pet is particularly ill-behaved. The trainer preps the pets for their performance with mock weddings to get them used to the crowds.
"It brings in the personality of the bride and groom," says Anna Pohl, owner of Day Planners LLC, an event-planning business in Sarasota, Fla., who says about two out of the 30 weddings she plans each year involve pets.
-- Within the past few years, animal films have turned their focus away from nature and toward relationships between people and animals, the Huffington Post reports. Newer films that focus on humanity's impact on animals include "Buck," the story of Buck Brannaman, the true horse whisperer; "Project Nim," about a chimpanzee raised to be like a human; and "One Lucky Elephant," about raising an elephant over many years.
-- The best way to get a horse out of a burning barn is to chase it out of the fire, TheHorse.com reports. Rebecca Gimenez, president of the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, says that by the time firefighters arrive at a barn fire, most animals have died of smoke inhalation. People have been timed trying to catch, halter, blindfold and lead a horse out of a burning barn and have found that it is nearly impossible to do it before the barn is engulfed in flames and the smoke is too overpowering. Chasing a horse through an established fire lane is the best way to get it out. Sprinkler systems in the barn can help buy precious time until firefighters arrive, and can help save horses' lives.
-- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker and Ed Murrieta
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.