Why Vaccinations May Fail

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Aimee Amodio

I’m a big fan of vaccinating pets. Immunization has successfully prevented disease in millions of pets for years. But once in a while, a vaccine doesn’t work for a particular animal. Vaccine failure is pretty rare, but it can happen. Here are a few reasons why: Different strains of the same disease. Most of the time, the strain of a disease used in a vaccine protects your pet against other strains of the same disease. Sometimes, a new strain evolves that is resistant to the vaccine. (Drug-resistant diseases are a problem for humans, too.) The vaccine was spoiled. Many vaccines … Continue reading →

What Is Rabies?

Posted on June 7, 2008 by Aimee Amodio

Chances are, your pets are vaccinated against rabies. But do you know what rabies is? Rabies is a disease caused by a virus. The virus targets the nervous system — specifically nerve cells. When a pet (or person) is bitten by a rabies virus carrier, the virus moves through peripheral nerves towards the brain and spinal cord. Any mammal can get rabies, although the symptoms can be somewhat different in different species. Early symptoms of a rabies infection in humans include: Headache Fever Decrease in appetite and/or vomiting Pain, itching and/or tingling at the bite site The early stage of … Continue reading →