Rabies-vaccine-induced ischemic dermatopathy
Encyclopedia
Programs supporting regular vaccination of dogs have contributed both to the health of dogs and to the public health
. In countries where routine rabies vaccination of dogs is practiced, rabies
in humans is reduced to a very rare event.
Currently, there are geographically defined core vaccines and individually chosen non-core vaccine recommendations for dogs.
Most vaccination protocols recommend a series of vaccines for puppies, with vaccine boosters
given at one year of age. Frequency of vaccination thereafter varies with the disease and vaccine type.
Most vaccines are given by subcutaneous (under the skin) or intramuscular (into the muscle) injection. Respiratory tract disease vaccination may be given intra-nasally (in the nose) in some cases.
Vaccine immunogens may consist of killed or inactivated pathogens, bio-engineered pathogen proteins or polypeptides, or, increasingly rarely, modified-live virus. Most vaccines contain adjuvants designed to boost the immune response to the vaccines. Many adverse reactions are associated with reactions to these adjuvants.
occurs naturally and laws address licensing and vaccination of dogs, rabies vaccination of dogs is required by law.
Other core vaccines in most regions include canine distemper
, canine parvovirus
, canine hepatitis virus
or adenovirus-2.
, which protects again a respiratory illness commonly known as "kennel cough" in addition to canine parainfluenza virus (another kennel cough agent). Vaccination against Lyme disease
, an illness that is spread via deer ticks, is also indicated in certain environments where deer ticks frequently occur. Lyme disease is known to cause lethargy, fever, soreness, and in cases gone untreated, damage to joints, paralysis, and nerve damage. Another important vaccine is to consider is against Leptospirosis, a disease characterized by weakness, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and kidney and liver failure. Leptospirosis comes from standing water containing urine from animals infected with leptospira, and the disease can be transmitted to humans via contaminated water or food.
Generally not recommended, owing to unproven efficacy, are canine coronavirus
, canine adenovirus-1 (which also causes significant reaction), Giardia
vaccine and rattlesnake
envenomation vaccine. The rattlesnake vaccine available from Red Rock Biologics is given to dogs in two doses with yearly boosters recommended for best results. It is marketed as a safer and more economical alternative to antivenom treatment but does not negate the need for immediate medical treatment for such a bite. Vaccines for other species of poisonous snakes are being developed by Red Rock .
may develop near or over the vaccine administration site and around the vaccine material that was injected, or as a more widespread reaction. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs, darkening of the skin, lumps at the vaccine site, and scarring with loss of hair. In addition to the vaccination site, lesions most often develop on the ear flaps (pinnae), on the elbows and hocks, in the center of the footpads and on the face. Scarring may be permanent. Dogs do not usually seem ill, but may develop fever. Symptoms may show up within weeks of vaccination, or may take months to develop noticeably.
Dogs with active lesion development and / or widespread disease may be treated with pentoxyfylline, a drug that is useful in small vessel vasculitis
, or tacrolimus
, an ointment that will help suppress the inflammation in the affected areas.
Owners and veterinarians of dogs who have developed this type of reaction should review the vaccination protocol critically and try to reduce future vaccinations to the extent medically and legally possible. At the very least, vaccines from the same manufacturer should be avoided. It is also recommended that the location in which future vaccinations are administered should be changed to the rear leg, as far down on the leg as possible and should be given in the muscle rather than under the skin.
is a life-threatening emergency. More often, dogs will develop urticaria
, or hives within minutes of receiving a vaccine. When this occurs, a veterinarian will treat the reaction with antihistamines and corticosteroid
drugs and this is usually effective. Future vaccine protocols must be modified according to the vaccine component suspected to have triggered the reaction.
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
. In countries where routine rabies vaccination of dogs is practiced, rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
in humans is reduced to a very rare event.
Currently, there are geographically defined core vaccines and individually chosen non-core vaccine recommendations for dogs.
Most vaccination protocols recommend a series of vaccines for puppies, with vaccine boosters
Booster dose
In medicine, a booster dose is an extra administration of a vaccine after an earlier dose. After initial immunization, a booster injection or booster dose is a re-exposure to the immunizing antigen. It is intended to increase immunity against that antigen back to protective levels after it has been...
given at one year of age. Frequency of vaccination thereafter varies with the disease and vaccine type.
Most vaccines are given by subcutaneous (under the skin) or intramuscular (into the muscle) injection. Respiratory tract disease vaccination may be given intra-nasally (in the nose) in some cases.
Vaccine immunogens may consist of killed or inactivated pathogens, bio-engineered pathogen proteins or polypeptides, or, increasingly rarely, modified-live virus. Most vaccines contain adjuvants designed to boost the immune response to the vaccines. Many adverse reactions are associated with reactions to these adjuvants.
Core vaccines for dogs
Government laws and local recommendations vary, but in countries where rabiesRabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
occurs naturally and laws address licensing and vaccination of dogs, rabies vaccination of dogs is required by law.
Other core vaccines in most regions include canine distemper
Canine distemper
Canine distemper is a viral disease that affects animals in the families Canidae, Mustelidae, Mephitidae, Hyaenidae, Ailuridae, Procyonidae, Pinnipedia, some Viverridae and Felidae...
, canine parvovirus
Canine parvovirus
Canine parvovirus type 2 is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs. The disease is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. It can be especially severe in puppies that are not protected by maternal antibodies or vaccination. It has two...
, canine hepatitis virus
Infectious canine hepatitis
Infectious canine hepatitis is an acute liver infection in dogs caused by canine adenovirus type-1 . CAV-1 also causes disease in wolves, coyotes, and bears, and encephalitis in foxes. The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted...
or adenovirus-2.
Non-core vaccines for dogs
Non-core vaccines for dogs, which may be important to administer when exposure is predicted, include BordetellaBordetella
Bordetella is a genus of small , Gram-negative coccobacilli of the phylum proteobacteria. Bordetella species, with the exception of B. petrii, are obligate aerobes as well as highly fastidious, or difficult to culture. Three species are human pathogens ; one of these Bordetella is a genus of small...
, which protects again a respiratory illness commonly known as "kennel cough" in addition to canine parainfluenza virus (another kennel cough agent). Vaccination against Lyme disease
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most...
, an illness that is spread via deer ticks, is also indicated in certain environments where deer ticks frequently occur. Lyme disease is known to cause lethargy, fever, soreness, and in cases gone untreated, damage to joints, paralysis, and nerve damage. Another important vaccine is to consider is against Leptospirosis, a disease characterized by weakness, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and kidney and liver failure. Leptospirosis comes from standing water containing urine from animals infected with leptospira, and the disease can be transmitted to humans via contaminated water or food.
Generally not recommended, owing to unproven efficacy, are canine coronavirus
Canine coronavirus
Canine coronavirus is a virus of the family Coronaviridae that causes a highly contagious intestinal disease worldwide in dogs. It was discovered in 1971 in Germany during an outbreak in sentry dogs.-Pathology:...
, canine adenovirus-1 (which also causes significant reaction), Giardia
Giardia
Giardia is a genus of anaerobic flagellated protozoan parasites of the phylum Metamonada in the supergroup "Excavata" that colonise and reproduce in the small intestines of several vertebrates, causing giardiasis, commonly known as Beaver fever...
vaccine and rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
envenomation vaccine. The rattlesnake vaccine available from Red Rock Biologics is given to dogs in two doses with yearly boosters recommended for best results. It is marketed as a safer and more economical alternative to antivenom treatment but does not negate the need for immediate medical treatment for such a bite. Vaccines for other species of poisonous snakes are being developed by Red Rock .
Controversies in dog vaccination
There are evolving theories about the necessity and frequency of vaccinations for domestic dogs. Many dog owners and now many academic veterinarians have expressed concern that dogs are being vaccinated too frequently. Specific adverse reactions and general consequences for long-term health are both being cited as reasons to reduce the frequency of vaccination of adult dogs. Manufacturers of vaccines for dogs have responded by developing more vaccines with at least three year efficacy proven. Many states and communities have changed ordinances to allow for longer intervals between rabies vaccinations when vaccines of proven efficacy are administered.Adverse reactions to vaccines
Adverse reactions usually occur because of a harmful immune-mediated reaction to either the vaccine immunogen itself or to the vaccine adjuvant. Rarely, modified live virus vaccine agents cause disease directly.Ischemic Dermatopathy / Cutaneous vasculitis
A little known and often misdiagnosed reaction to the rabies vaccine in dogs, this problemmay develop near or over the vaccine administration site and around the vaccine material that was injected, or as a more widespread reaction. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs, darkening of the skin, lumps at the vaccine site, and scarring with loss of hair. In addition to the vaccination site, lesions most often develop on the ear flaps (pinnae), on the elbows and hocks, in the center of the footpads and on the face. Scarring may be permanent. Dogs do not usually seem ill, but may develop fever. Symptoms may show up within weeks of vaccination, or may take months to develop noticeably.
Dogs with active lesion development and / or widespread disease may be treated with pentoxyfylline, a drug that is useful in small vessel vasculitis
Vasculitis
Vasculitis refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterized by inflammatory destruction of blood vessels. Both arteries and veins are affected. Lymphangitis is sometimes considered a type of vasculitis...
, or tacrolimus
Tacrolimus
Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive drug that is mainly used after allogeneic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the patient's immune system and so lower the risk of organ rejection...
, an ointment that will help suppress the inflammation in the affected areas.
Owners and veterinarians of dogs who have developed this type of reaction should review the vaccination protocol critically and try to reduce future vaccinations to the extent medically and legally possible. At the very least, vaccines from the same manufacturer should be avoided. It is also recommended that the location in which future vaccinations are administered should be changed to the rear leg, as far down on the leg as possible and should be given in the muscle rather than under the skin.
Urticaria / Anaphylaxis
Fortunately, severe systemic reaction to vaccine allergy is very rare in dogs. When it does occur, however, anaphylaxisAnaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is defined as "a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death". It typically results in a number of symptoms including throat swelling, an itchy rash, and low blood pressure...
is a life-threatening emergency. More often, dogs will develop urticaria
Urticaria
Urticaria is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes...
, or hives within minutes of receiving a vaccine. When this occurs, a veterinarian will treat the reaction with antihistamines and corticosteroid
Corticosteroid
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte...
drugs and this is usually effective. Future vaccine protocols must be modified according to the vaccine component suspected to have triggered the reaction.
See also
- Vaccine-associated sarcomaVaccine-associated sarcomaA vaccine-associated sarcoma is a type of malignant tumor found in cats that has been linked to certain vaccines. VAS has become a concern for veterinarians and cat owners alike and has resulted in changes in recommended vaccine protocols...
- A type of malignant tumor found in cats and rarely, dogs, that has been linked to certain vaccines - ATCvet code QI07ATCvet code QI07-QI07AA Inactivated viral vaccines:-QI07AA Inactivated viral vaccines:-QI07AA Inactivated viral vaccines::QI07AA01 Canine parvovirus:QI07AA02 Rabies virus:QI07AA03 Canine parainfluenza virus + canine reovirus + canine influenza virus...
Immunologicals for canidae (a list of ATCvet codes for canine vaccines) - DA2PPC VaccineDA2PPC VaccineDA2PP, also known as DHPP, is a multivalent vaccine for dogs that protects against canine distemper, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza, canine parvovirus, and canine coronavirus....
External Resources
- 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines
- AVMA Principles of Vaccination
- The Vexing Vaccine Issue from JAVMA News
- UC Davis VMTH Canine and Feline Vaccination Guidelines
- Vaccine FAQ from The Pet Health Library
- Baughan, Loretta. Are We Over Vaccinating Our Pets? Spaniel Journal
- GUIDELINES FOR THE VACCINATION OF DOGS AND CATS. COMPILED BY THE VACCINATION GUIDELINES GROUP (VGG)OF THE WORLD SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATION WSAVA)http://minnie.uab.es/~veteri/21273/Guidelines%20vaccination-WSAVA.pdf
- 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines http://minnie.uab.es/~veteri/21273/vaccine_guidelines06.pdf