Day, M.J., Horzinek, M.C., Schultz, R.D., and Squires, R.A. (2015) World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2015 Vaccination Guidelines for the Owners and Breeders of Dogs and Cats. Report. World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Ontario, Canada.

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Abstract

Vaccination of dogs and cats protects them from infections that may be lethal or cause serious disease. Vaccination is a safe and efficacious practice that in many countries has had major impact on improving the quality of life of small companion animals. The success of small animal vaccination programmes over the past five decades mirrors the success of vaccination in controlling disease in the human population. Owners and breeders of dogs and cats will be very aware of the prominent media exposure that has been given to the practice of vaccination in human and animal populations in the past two decades. This public attention has focussed on the rare instances of adverse events that might follow administration of vaccines to people or animals. The medical and veterinary professions have devoted considerable time and effort to addressing vaccination issues and developing protocols for the administration of these products that increase safety and minimize the already low risks associated with vaccination. Many owners and breeders will be aware of the expert groups that have been convened to offer medical and veterinary practitioners guidance on the optimum methods of delivering vaccination to their patients. In veterinary medicine, one such body is the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) that has provided science-based advice to small animal practitioners in a document originally published in 2007 and updated in 2010 and again in 2015. The VGG, is however, very aware that high quality scientific information related to the practice of small animal vaccination is not readily accessed by the lay public in a form that is comprehensible. Unfortunately, there is much misinformation that is 4 readily promulgated via the internet by individuals and groups that lack scientific credibility. This has led to public concern and to the misguided practice of refusing vaccines when offered by the veterinarian. Failure to appropriately vaccinate your dog or cat makes them susceptible to lethal infectious diseases and the benefit of vaccination far outweighs any risk of an adverse event following vaccination. In order to address these public concerns, the VGG has prepared the following document. This provides a concise summary of this area in lay terms that should be readily understood by pet owners and breeders. The information provided is based on current scientific knowledge and is prepared by internationally recognized experts in small animal microbiology, immunology and vaccinology. The document initially gives an account of the major vaccine-preventable infectious diseases of small companion animals and then discusses the fundamentals of the immune response and the immunological principles of vaccination. We address the public debate over vaccination that has led to the development of vaccination guidelines and explain the guidelines that we have encouraged the veterinary profession to adopt. Finally, we also discuss adverse events and what you should do if you suspect that a vaccine administered to your pet might be responsible for such an effect. We realize that scientific terminology can sometimes appear impenetrable and so have provided a glossary of terms to aid in your understanding. A major component of the written document is a set of images that present to you in graphic visual form the consequences of failing to protect your pet through vaccination. These infectious diseases have not disappeared and even in developed nations with good vaccination programmes there continue to be localized outbreaks of infection and disease. We encourage you to study this document and carefully consider the content in order to maximize the well-being of our small companion animals.

Item ID:	42865
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	19 May 2016 03:16
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0707 Veterinary Sciences > 070706 Veterinary Medicine @ 100%
SEO Codes:	86 MANUFACTURING > 8609 Veterinary Pharmaceutical Products > 860901 Veterinary Biological Preventatives (e.g. Vaccines) @ 80% 86 MANUFACTURING > 8609 Veterinary Pharmaceutical Products > 860902 Veterinary Diagnostics @ 20%
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