Importance of Vaccinations

Vaccinations are important. You know that, that is why you have been vaccinated and you have had your children vaccinated. Thanks to vaccinations diseases like smallpox, yellow fever, polio, mumps and many others have become things of the past in the developed world. Like you, vaccines can help your pet to live and longer and healthier life.

Are Vaccines Safe For My Pet?

A vaccine is designed to trigger a protective immune response while preparing it to fight future infections. They help to stimulate the natural production of antibodies that will attack disease-causing organisms that enter the body and can provide complete immunity or reduce the severity of a disease greatly. They have prevented the premature death of millions of people and millions of animals as well as keeping our food sources like cattle and poultry healthy.

It can take as many as ten years to develop a vaccine and it must be thoroughly tested and studied before it is able to be administered by your local veterinarian. The process is rigorous and few vaccines make it all of the way from drawing board to your vet’s office but the ones that do are an integral part of their ability to keep your pet happy and healthy. They are safe.

Vaccine Guidelines for Pets

The most common vaccine is for rabies, a disease that is almost certainly fatal if contracted. These vaccines are so important that many state and local governments require that a pet be vaccinated and that their owner have proof of that vaccination. Many animal-care professionals like Doggie DoLittle will also not perform any work on unvaccinated animals. Considering that there are many diseases, like rabies, that can be transmitted from animals to people, it is not worth the risk. They are also important in young animals like puppies and kittens since their immune system is not as developed leaving them more susceptible to contracting a disease.

Under optimal conditions immunizations are first administered at about six weeks of age and then at about every 3-4 weeks. These are mostly “core” vaccines that protect the animal from common diseases in the area. Pets with more unique needs may receive “non-core” vaccines to help them with those needs. The frequency that “core” vaccinations needs to occur can range from every few months to several years in between boosters. The most common “core” immunizations are rabies, canine and feline distemper, canine parvovirus, canine Type 2 adenovirus, feline calicivirus and rhinotracheitis. Some of the “non-core” immunizations include bordetella, canine influenza, leptospirosis, feline leukemia, chlamydophila felis and feline immunodeficiency virus. and may not be required or recommended if your pet does not come into contact with other animals.

Side Effects

Some vaccines can have side effects for your four-legged friends which is usually the reason many pet owners balk at having their pet immunized. Most are mild and will dissipate within a few hours though some can last for several days. These mostly include fever, swelling, decreased appetite and activity or cold-like symptoms. These vaccines should only be administered by a veterinarian and if any of these symptoms occur contact your veterinarian..

It has been noted already that several diseases like rabies are likely to be fatal to an animal if contracted. Your pet can easily be immunized from those diseases so that they can continue to be your loving companion for years to come. That itself is worth the small cost of a vaccine isn’t it?

Reference Articles:
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/vaccinations.aspx
https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/disease-eradication
https://www.thespruce.com/why-vaccines-are-important-for-dogs-1118663
http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/1199-vaccination-tips-aaha
https://healthforanimals.org/resources-and-events/resources/papers/128-the-benefits-of-vaccines-and-vaccination.html
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/vaccinations-your-pet
https://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/cat-vaccinations#1

The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs. — Charles de Gaulle