In order for a cat to grow up healthy, it needs to undergo a number of procedures, one of which is a vaccine against lichen. It will help your pet acquire immunity from this disease, which puts both the animal and the entire family at risk. As a rule, a sick pet is treated for quite a long time and tediously. In this case, it is necessary to thoroughly treat the apartment with a chlorine solution, vacuum and wash all the carpets and the cats’ favorite beds.
Today, veterinary medicine has invented a fairly effective remedy - a vaccine against this unpleasant skin disease. In our article we will talk about the basic rules for vaccinating cats, what types of vaccines there are, and consider the pros and cons of this event.
Is the vaccine used against shingles?
Vakderm is a veterinary drug developed by Moscow. Belongs to the category of associated vaccines (polyvaccines).
The drug is used in the fight against dermatophytosis (microsporia and trichophytosis) in animals, including cats. The manufacturer recommends using Vakderm in 2 cases:
- for the treatment of fungal infections in pets;
- prevention of infection in cats that have been in contact with sick animals.
How is Vakderm-F different?
On sale you can see the drugs Vakderm and Vakderm-F. Both of them are used in the fight against fungal infections in animals, but if the first remedy is indicated for use in cats, dogs, rabbits and fur-bearing animals, then the second is only for cats.
Preparing a cat for shingles vaccination
In order for the animal to be vaccinated successfully, it needs to be prepared to receive the injection. Firstly, it is necessary to comply with the scheme and deadline accepted by veterinary medicine. Secondly, if the cat was treated with antibiotics, then the injection is given only 2 weeks after the end of taking the last tablet. If your cat is planning to be vaccinated against lichen, then you need to try to avoid stress, which can be caused by moving to a new place of residence, the arrival of guests, traveling on public transport, or visiting exhibitions. If there was contact with a suspicious animal the day before, it is better to postpone vaccination for a week.
Composition and expiration date
The vaccine is based on fungal cultures of dermatophytes Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum canis, inactivated by formaldehyde. It is produced in the form of a homogeneous yellowish-brown suspension or a dry porous mass of the same color.
The drug must be used within 1 year from the date of production. It is recommended to keep it in its original packaging (ampoules or bottles placed in a cardboard box) in a cool place protected from sunlight at a temperature of +2...+10 °C.
The vaccine can be stored for no longer than 30 minutes after opening the container.
Treatment
Of course, you will be immediately offered treatment and advised on various ointments, shampoos or bath products
. The first thing to do is isolate your cat. If you have a long-haired breed, it would be advisable to cut your pet's hair. It would also be a good idea to trim the claws. Also try to treat the room where the cat is with disinfectants. For this, the best option would be to use chlorhexidine.
The best treatment is to use the Vakderm vaccine.
Vakderm
Your veterinary clinic should offer you the Vacderm vaccine. It is used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of dermatophyses
. Sometimes impatient owners may panic that no therapeutic effect is observed. However, this is not at all true. The vaccine is administered twice, and the effect occurs two to three weeks, immediately after the second vaccination. After this amount of time you will be able to see the result. The scabs will begin to flake off and fall off, and new hair and fur will grow.
You must be provided with instructions for using Vakderm.
If you use the vaccine for prophylaxis, you should take into account that immunity will not develop immediately
. First, the first vaccine is administered to a healthy animal intramuscularly in the thigh area, and after two weeks it is repeated in the second thigh. After about twenty-five days or a month, intense immunity is developed, which will last for a year.
The vaccine itself is a fraction of weakened dermatophyte spores. Once in the body, the immune system will begin to produce antibodies to the incoming antigen, and they will protect the body from the pathogen for another year, preventing it from manifesting itself. Ultimately, he will abort, and your cat will be healthy and feel almost nothing.
Contraindications and adverse reactions
Naturally, the vaccine also has contraindications for use.
, such as:
- second half of pregnancy;
- elevated cat body temperature;
- acute poisoning;
- presence of an infectious disease.
Adverse reactions are possible in the form of the development of a lump at the site of vaccine administration, but it will resolve after three to five days. Fatigue may also occur quickly, so do not give the animal heavy loads and carefully monitor your cat.
Release form and price
This vaccine is suitable for cats, dogs, rabbits and other fur-bearing animals.
It is produced in two forms:
- vaccine solution
- vaccine powder
The latter is diluted in a sterile solvent. The cost of a dose is approximately one hundred and ten Russian rubles. Different veterinary clinics set their own prices for the drug.
Instructions for use
Dosage of the drug
The amount of drug administered is calculated taking into account the age and body weight of the cat. Kittens weighing from 0.5 to 1.5-1.7 kg (1-3 months old) use a single dose of 0.5 cm³. The dosage of the vaccine for animals weighing more than 1.7 kg and older than 3 months is 1 cm³.
For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, the same dose of the drug is used.
Vakderm suspension is ready for use immediately after opening the ampoule. Before use, the dry form of the drug must be diluted in saline, sterile water or a special solvent. For 1 cm³ of vaccine, take 1 ml of any mentioned liquid.
Immunization is carried out in 2 stages with an interval of 10-14 days. If a cat has ringworm in the incubation period, then after vaccination the symptoms of the disease may begin to appear more intense. In this case, 10-14 days after the second stage of immunization, he is given a second double injection of Vakderm according to the same scheme.
Immunity to dermatophytosis in vaccinated cats is formed 4 weeks after the second injection and lasts for at least 1 year.
How and where to inject?
The drug is used intramuscularly. Injections are made into the thigh of the hind paw, and if the procedure is repeated, the other limb.
Before administration, the solution is warmed to the cat’s body temperature. For injections, disposable syringes with sterile needles are used. Before and after the procedure, the animal’s skin at the site of drug administration is wiped with a gauze swab soaked in 70% medical alcohol.
Immunization is carried out provided that the pet does not have helminthic infestation. To do this, 10 days before the first dose of Vakderm is administered, he is given anthelmintic therapy.
If the cat is sick or weakened, or has an elevated body temperature, then vaccination should be postponed until it recovers.
Treat or vaccinate for ringworm?
Many owners are wondering whether it is worth vaccinating their cat, why expose it to unnecessary stress and exposure to the vaccine. If a cat gets sick, then we will treat it, and what if it overcomes such an illness, it will not have contact with sick and stray animals. Let's try to figure out this difficult issue.
As you know, if a cat gets sick, not only the animal is at risk, but the whole family is at risk. In humans, lichen is difficult to treat and takes a long time, because the fungus that causes the skin disease is quite tenacious; it can withstand direct sunlight, frost, and some antifungal medications and disinfectants.
After lichen, the following complications may occur in cats: meningitis, complex skin infections, blindness, pneumonia, neuralgia. If a vaccinated cat gets shingles, the disease will go away with milder symptoms and it will take much less time to fully recover. When the injection takes place against a healthy background, in accordance with the established schedule, then there is nothing to fear, the vaccine will only bring benefits.
Complications after vaccination
With the correct dosage, the drug is well tolerated by cats and rarely causes adverse events.
Side effects that may occur in an animal after vaccination include:
- Painful lump at the injection site. Occurs when a cold solution is injected into a cat or an unsterile syringe is used. This symptom does not require treatment and goes away on its own in 3-5 days.
- Slight drowsiness. May bother you for up to 3 days.
If your pet experiences undesirable reactions after the injection, he should be given rest for up to 5 days.
Vakderm is not safe for the liver, so it can only be used as prescribed by a veterinarian.
How dangerous is lichen?
Ringworm (or dermatophytosis) refers to fungal skin diseases. The causative agent of the disease in cats is most often microsporum fungi. By affecting individual areas of the skin, the fungus causes peeling. On the surface of the coat, which is colonized by the fungus, hair begins to fall out: bald spots form, which significantly worsens the appearance of the animal. With severe damage, small blisters and ulcers may appear on the skin. They, in turn, become a channel for more dangerous infections, such as staphylococcus, etc.
Sometimes lichen in cats can be accompanied by itching. Then the infected animals are given a special collar that prevents them from scratching the itchy skin. If the cat is not vaccinated against lichen in advance, the owner will have to deal with the consequences of the disease for a long time. Fungal spores have the ability to remain viable for a long time, settling on furniture, clothing, human skin and animal fur.
A cat owner can also get ringworm from their own or someone else's pet.
Reviews about the medicine
Owners
Larisa, 36 years old, Mozhaisk:
“My son and I picked up a kitten on the street. He was very thin and had patches of lichen all over his torso. I immediately took the foundling to the veterinarian. He prescribed the drug Vakderm in the form of injections and Zoomikol solution externally. Vakderm was administered at the veterinary clinic twice with a 2-week interval. The injections are painful, so I had to hold the cat tightly.
After the procedure he felt well. The bald areas began to grow over with hair after the second injection. 3 months have passed since the end of treatment, not a trace of lichen remains.”
Vera, 27 years old, Yelabuga:
“I have 2 cats at home. One day I noticed dark dots on one of her nose and around her mouth. The doctor said that this was a sign of ringworm and advised using Vakderm for treatment. It was also prescribed to a healthy pet to prevent infection.
The drug helped both in treatment and prevention. The only thing I didn’t like was that it comes in a solution for injections. I didn’t dare do them myself; I took my pets to the veterinarian for procedures.”
Veterinarians
Anna, veterinarian, Tobolsk:
“In my practice, when treating dermatophytoses, I often use the Vakderm vaccine. It is indicated for adult cats and kittens over 1 month old; it is effective even in difficult cases when other means do not help.
The only negative thing I can note is that the drug has a detrimental effect on the liver. In order not to harm the animal, it is important to accurately calculate the dosage. Only a specialist can do this, so do not treat your pets at home, consult a doctor.”
Gennady, veterinarian, St. Petersburg:
“When cats with dermatophytosis are brought to my appointment, in addition to external remedies, I recommend giving them the Vakderm vaccine. It not only increases the effectiveness of treatment, but also provides immunity for 12 months.
It is especially important to immunize cats that their owners let outside for walks, since it is not difficult to catch dermatophytosis there. There have never been any complaints from animal owners about adverse reactions from the drug, although I have been using it for several years.”
Methods of infection
Many owners think that they can become infected through direct contact with a sick or stray animal, but:
- You can also become infected with lichen at exhibitions; sometimes your pet may not have significant symptoms of the disease. He is a carrier, due to his excellent immunity, he infects others, and he himself remains outwardly healthy and well-groomed.
- It is also possible for a pet that has never gone outside to “catch” this skin disease. The owner can bring fungal spores on shoes or hands.
- A pet walking on the street or in the countryside in the summer can easily become infected by walking on grass or soil, which may contain spores of this fungus, which causes a complex skin disease.
- A predisposition to lichen can be inherited.
Manufacturing form
Vakderm for lichen for cats is produced as a suspension for injections. The sterile solution has a pinkish color and uniform thickness without additional entries. The medicine is placed in insulated glass bottles of different capacities.
- One ampoule may contain: 1, 2, 10 ml of the drug.
- Each glass bottle is sealed with a rubber stopper held in place by an aluminum cap.
- Vials of the vaccine are packed in cardboard packages of 10 units.
Need to remember! The medicine Vakderm F for lichen is prescribed to be consumed half an hour after opening the bottle.
The shelf life of the medicine for dermatophytosis is 1 year. After completion of this period, the liquid should be removed from use. The vaccine becomes unusable in the sun and at a temperature of 15-25 degrees, so it must be placed in the refrigerator and kept at +2 to +10 degrees.
