Veterinarians have long suspected that annual vaccinations against common viral diseases are probably not necessary, and may even be harmful in some cases.  Recent studies suggest that vaccinations need not be given more than once every three years for the diseases most commonly vaccinated against in cats and dogs.

We have adopted guidelines and suggestions put forth by the American Academy of Feline Practitioners for cat vaccination protocols,  and the American Animal Hospital Association's guidelines for canine vaccination protocols (see our links page).  Vaccination protocols are tailored to the individual pet's risk profile, but generally we have broken our multivalent vaccines (those containing antigens against more than one disease) into their individual components, each of which is given once every three years after the puppy/kitten series and one year booster vacinations.  For example, a dog which is not shown or regularly boarded, and which spends most of its time in Juneau, would receive the following vaccinations:

• Distemper/hepatitis/high-titer parvovirus: at 6, 9, and 12 weeks.
• Rabies (one year) at 12 weeks
• Boosters against all of the above at one year of age, including three-year rabies.
• Year two: Distemper/hepatitis
• Year three: Parvovirus
• Year Four: Rabies
• Year five: As per year two
• Year six: As per year three.
• Etc.
• Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine is only recommended for dogs who are at risk - those dogs that are shown or boarded regularly.  The kennel cough vaccine is derived from a bacteria rather than a virus, and does not provoke a very strong immune response.  Therefore, this vaccine needs to be administered once every 6 months.
• Leptospirosis: another bacteria-derived vaccine, with proven duration of immunity of only one year.  In my experience, most of the vaccine reactions we saw in the past were due to the leptospirosis component of annual vaccines.  There are 8 different serovars (subtypes) of the leptosira bacteria which cause leptospirosis.  Available vaccines cover only 3 or 4 serotypes,and they are not the serotypes most commonly implicated in outbreaks of leptospirosis.  Since we do not have a problem with leptospirosis in southeast Alaska, we do not recommend the vaccine at this time.  If you are travelling or moving to another state, the vaccine may be appropriate.

Feline protocols are similar.  Feline leukemia vaccination is not recommended for use in cats who are strictly indoor cats, or who are outside only under direct supervision.  We do not recommend either FIP or FIV vaccines for most cats.

• Feline distemper/rhinotracheitis/calicivirus at 6, 9, and 12 weeks.
• Rabies (one year) at 12 weeks
• Feline leukemia (id appropriate) is administered at 6 and 9 weeks.
• Boosters against all of the above at one year, including three-year rabies.
• Year two: Feline distemper
• Year three: Feline rhinotracheitis/calicivirus (upper respiratory vaccines)
• Year four: Rabies three-year and Feline Leukemia if appropriate.
• Year five: Feline distemper
• Year six: etc. 

At the Juneau Veterinary Hospital, any vaccines deemed neccessary are administered during the annual office visit/physical exam; vaccines are included in the office visit/physical exam charge.