Pets need proper vaccinations to stay healthy, just like people. As a pet owner having your pet vaccinated against diseases is very important. Annual visits to the vet and keeping vaccinations up to date will ensure healthy living.

 

What Are Pet Vaccines?

Vaccines are medical products that bring protective immune responses against future infections from pathogens. Vaccines reduce the severity of future sicknesses because they contain antigens. If your pet is immunized against a particular disease, his or her immune system is prepared to fight the disease off.

Why Vaccinate Your Pet?
 

Pets that are not vaccinated tend to suffer a fatality when they fall sick. Even if they recover, they are left with long-term problems that are painful and costly. Many states require you to vaccinate your pet. Vaccinations are essential for these reasons:
 

• To prevent pet illnesses
   

• To avoid costly treatments for preventable diseases
   

• To prevent wildlife diseases such as rabies

Why Do Pets Require Vaccination?
 

Young pets like kittens and puppies are highly susceptible to diseases and infection as their immunity is still developing. Since not all young pets receive antibodies from their mother’s milk, they may not have sufficient protection from infections. The first vaccine protects the pet against viruses or bacteria.

 

Pet Vaccines
 

When a vaccine is introduced to a pet’s body, its immune system becomes mildly stimulated. Later on, when the pet is exposed to the disease, it becomes easy to fight it off. Core vaccines are vital for all pets and are necessary to avoid transmission to human beings.

Dog’s core vaccines include a vaccine for canine hepatitis, rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Cats, on the other hand, require core vaccines against distemper, calicivirus, and herpesvirus type 1.

Non-core vaccines are administered to pets depending on their exposure risks. They include Bronchiseptica, Buegdorferi, and Leptospira for dogs. For cats, they include the Leukemia virus, Chlamydophila, and Bordetella. Your vet will determine which vaccines are best for your pets.

 

Timing and Frequency of Vaccinations
 

Pets vaccinations depend on the type of vaccine being administered, the pet’s age and medical history, and the environment your pet lives in. If a pet has received antibodies from their mother’s healthy milk, they may be healthy.

If not, a vet should administer a minimum of three vaccinations at three to four weeks intervals for puppies. On the other hand, kittens get antibodies from their mother’s milk, and vaccination can be administered at 16 weeks.

 

Side Effects of Pet Vaccinations
 

When a vaccine stimulates a pet’s immune system, it can exhibit mild symptoms that are minor and short-lived. These signs do not require medical attention. Side effects include loss of appetite, fever, sluggishness, vomiting, diarrhea, and lameness. Your pet may also experience pain, soreness, or hair loss around the injection site. Most pets do not always get ill after vaccination, but if they do, the risks are smaller than the actual disease.

If you need a current vaccination for your pet, please visit our office in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. J Personal Vet provides quality veterinary services and current vaccinations for your pet. Call us and schedule an appointment at (855)-738-7437 today!