Importance Of Vaccinating Your Pet
Just like humans, pets deserve proper healthcare and nutrition. One of the fundamental health care routines that you should provide your pet is vaccination. Regular vaccinations not only protect your pet from diseases and boost their immune system, but they also prevent the spread of infectious diseases to other animals within your locality.
What Are The Benefits Of Vaccinating Your Pet?
Pets are susceptible to dangerous diseases such as rabies, feline leukemia, hepatitis, parvovirus and distemper among many others. Infections such as rabies are fatal and can be passed on to humans as well. The only viable way you can protect your family and pets from these life-threatening infections is through regular vaccinations.
Vaccination helps your pets live longer and happier lives. The fact that vaccinated pets don’t have to go through miserable treatment procedures is a sigh of relief for both the animals and the pet owners.
What Vaccines Does My Dog Need?
The process of vaccination starts at a very early age when your dog is still a puppy. The puppy vaccination schedule ensures all puppies are protected by having their core vaccines by the time they are 16 weeks old. Here’s a guideline for different vaccinations for dogs:
- 6 to 8 weeks – Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (DHPP) and Bordetella
- 10 to 12 weeks – Bordetella, DHPP, Leptospirosis, +/- Lyme disease (depending on lifestyle)
- 14 to 16 weeks – DHPP, Leptospirosis, Rabies
- Yearly – DHPP, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Rabies
In case you purchased an older dog from a breeder or adopted one from a shelter, then you should let a vet have a look at your dog to ascertain whether it has undergone all essential vaccinations. If you have a dog that spends most of its time outside, then you should consider additional vaccines for kennel cough, canine influenza and Lyme disease.
What Vaccines Does My Cat Need?
Kittens should receive vaccinations at least once every three to four weeks. The process of immunizing kittens goes on until they are four months old. Adult cats also require vaccinations but not as regularly as kittens. For example, the Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus and Panleukopenia vaccine should be administered yearly for adult cats. Some of the core cat vaccinations include:
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (also known as Feline Distemper)
- Rabies
Non-core cat vaccines are optional immunizations and are recommended for cats who spend most of their time outside the house. These include:
- Feline Leukemia
Where Can I Take My Pet For Vaccinations?
At University Animal Clinic, we offer wellness plans that will suit the vaccination needs of your pet. Whether you have a cat or a dog, you can rest assured that our dedicated staff will take care of your furry loved one in our AAHA-Accredited animal clinic.
