The effectiveness and safety of an immunization against parvovirus and rabies in anesthetized puppies

The efficacy and safety of a vaccination during anaesthesia was examined in 20 puppies from 8 litters of one kennel. The animals were vaccinated in a state of reflex-free anaesthesia (neuroleptanalgesia in combination with halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen). 20 puppies from the same litters were used as controls. A parvovirus living vaccine (Canimed) and a rabies vaccine from inactivated viruses (Rabisin) were used for the vaccinations. The titers of neutralizing antibodies against rabies virus were significantly lower in the group of anaesthetized animals compared to the control group on the 10th and 20th day p.vacc. The average titers of antibodies against parvovirus of both groups, however, do not allow any statistically significant statements. It is nevertheless remarkable that 6 of the anaesthetized puppies (three different litters) showed no increase in antibodies. The results of the investigations lead to the recommendation not to vaccinate anaesthetized puppies. The risk of reducing the efficacy of vaccinations with vaccines from inactivated agents is greater than with living vaccines.