August 2024
Immunizations are one of the easiest ways to ensure that your pet lives a long and healthy life. Vaccinations are an essential component of preventative medicine for companion animals.
Diseases against which vaccinations have been developed are typically highly dangerous, highly contagious, or both. Vaccinations can protect pets from serious disease or potential death and can also minimize the spread of disease among pets.
Vaccines contain some or all of the inactivated protein parts of pathogens that cause infectious disease. After vaccination, the animal’s immune system recognizes the pathogen from these inactivated parts—if the animal is exposed to the real disease in the future, their immune system is capable of fighting back against it. This, in turn, prevents, or substantially limits, sickness in the vaccinated animal.
Most initial vaccinations are given to puppies and kittens between 6 and 8 weeks of age. Dogs and cats should be boosted at 1 year of age, and after that core vaccinations should be boosted every three years.
Core vaccines are those that all dogs and cats should receive. These immunizations prevent diseases in pets like rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis in dogs, and herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia in cats.
Non-core vaccines are used more selectively because the diseases they prevent are less dangerous. These diseases include Lyme disease and kennel cough in dogs.
The most common adverse effects of vaccinations include pain, swelling or soreness at or around the injection site. If any other side effects are noted, speak with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
This National Immunization Awareness Month, remember that establishing a relationship with your veterinarian and determining an immunization strategy tailored to your pet’s age and health status will promote a long, happy, and, most importantly, healthy lifestyle for your four-legged friend.
Mon Valley Paws 