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Protect Michigan pets and livestock

Vaccinate before summer


Now that it’s spring, animal health officials at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) are reminding Michigan owners that vaccinating pets and livestock protects them from diseases, even if they are exposed to an infected animal or disease-carrier, such as mosquitoes and ticks.

“Vaccinating, deworming, and routine animal health activities should occur in the spring before moving to sales, exhibitions, or even before going on vacation,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Steven Halstead. “State law also requires all dogs six months and older to be licensed. To get a license, an owner must show proof that a veterinarian has vaccinated the dog against rabies, and that the vaccine is current. Each year we remind animal owners of the importance of vaccinating, which not only protects the pet, but also the food-animal industry.”

Core vaccines are recommended for most pets. Additional “non-core vaccines” (e.g., feline leukemia, canine kennel cough and other vaccines) may be appropriate if the animals are going to pet care facilities, kennels, or shows where they will be co-mingling. Additionally, pet and livestock owners are encouraged to have their veterinarian check for internal parasites and heartworms.

MDARD recommends owners speak with their private veterinarian regarding the following vaccinations:

Dogs: rabies, canine distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. In addition, owners should have the dogs checked for heartworm and intestinal parasites. Some veterinarians also recommend vaccination against leptospirosis and treatment to prevent Lyme disease.

Cats: rabies, herpes virus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.

Horses: MDARD mandates Equine infectious anemia (EIA) testing if traveling to a public event, as part of a sale, or importing a horse into Michigan from another state; and owners should talk to their veterinarian about the following vaccines: Tetanus toxoid, rabies, Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EHV-4).

Horse owners should prepare to follow these tips to prevent mosquito-borne illness:

Vaccinate your horses. Inexpensive vaccines for EEE and WNV are readily available and should be repeated at least annually. It is never too late to vaccinate horses. Talk to your veterinarian for details.

Use approved insect repellants to protect horses.

If possible, put horses in stables, stalls, or barns during the prime mosquito exposure hours of dusk and dawn.

Eliminate standing water, and drain troughs and buckets at least two times a week.

Sheep and goats: CD-T toxoid provides three-way protection against enterotoxemia (overeating disease) caused by Clostridium perfringins types C and D and tetanus (lockjaw) caused by Clostridium tetani. The large animal rabies vaccine is approved for use in sheep. No rabies vaccine is currently licensed for goats.

Cattle: Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (commonly called IBR); Bovine Viral Diarrhea, PI3, BRSV (viruses causing pneumonia/sickness); Leptospirosis (5-Way); Vibriosis; Calfhood vaccination for Brucellosis; Bovine Tuberculosis testing in the Modified Accredited Area (contact MDARD for additional information).

For information on animal health fair requirements visit: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mda/ExReq_225448_7.pdf

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