What You
Should Know About Vaccinations For Your Pet
Pets, like people, can be
protected from some diseases by vaccination. Although this Web page
provides basic information about vaccinations for your dog or cat, your
veterinarian is your best source for advice regarding your pet's
vaccination needs.
Vaccines are health products
that trigger protective immune responses in pets and prepare them to fight
future infections from disease-causing agents. Vaccines can lessen the
severity of future diseases and certain vaccines can prevent infection
altogether. Today, a variety of vaccines are available for use by
veterinarians.
Top
Yes! Pets should be vaccinated
to protect them from many highly contagious and deadly diseases. Experts
agree that widespread use of vaccines within the last century has
prevented death and disease in millions of animals. Even though some
formerly common diseases have now become uncommon, vaccination is still
highly recommended because these serious disease agents continue to be
present in the environment.
Top
For most pets, vaccination is
effective and will prevent future disease. Occasionally, a vaccinated pet
may not develop adequate immunity and, although rare, it is possible for
these pets to become ill. It is important to remember that although
breakdowns in protection do occur, most successfully vaccinated pets never
show signs of disease, making vaccination an important part of your pet's
preventive health care.
Top
Although most pets respond well
to vaccines, like any medical procedure vaccination carries some risk. The
most common adverse responses are mild and short-term, including fever,
sluggishness, and reduced appetite. Pets may also experience temporary
pain or subtle swelling at the site of vaccination. Although most adverse
responses will resolve within a day or two, excessive pain, swelling, or
listlessness should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Rarely, serious adverse
responses occur. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet has
repeated vomiting or diarrhea, whole body itching, difficulty breathing,
collapse, or swelling of the face or legs. These signs may indicate an
allergic reaction. In very rare instances death can occur. Visit with your
veterinarian about the latest information on vaccine safety, including
rare adverse responses that may develop weeks or months after vaccination.
Remember that while vaccination
is not without risk, failure to vaccinate leaves your pet vulnerable to
fatal illnesses that are preventable.
Top
Very young puppies and kittens
are highly susceptible to infectious diseases. This is especially true as
the natural immunity provided in their mothers' milk gradually wears off.
To keep gaps in protection as narrow as possible and to provide optimal
protection against disease for the first few months of life, a series of
vaccinations are scheduled, usually 3-4 weeks apart. For most puppies and
kittens, the final vaccination in the series is administered when they are
12 to 16 weeks old.
Top
Discuss with your veterinarian
your pet's lifestyle, access to other animals, and travel to other
geographic locations, since these factors affect your pet's risk of
exposure to disease. Not all pets should be vaccinated with all vaccines
just because these vaccines are available. "Core" vaccines are
recommended for most pets in a particular area. "Non-core"
vaccines are reserved for pets with unique needs. Your veterinarian will
consider your pet's particulars, the diseases at hand, and the application
of available vaccines to customize a vaccine recommendation for your pet.
Top
Your veterinarian will tailor a
vaccination schedule to suit your pet's needs. For many years, a set of
annual vaccinations was considered normal and necessary for dogs and cats.
Veterinarians have since learned more about diseases and pets' immune
systems, and there is increasing evidence that immunity triggered by some
vaccines provides protection beyond one year. The immunity triggered by
other vaccines may fail to protect for a full year. More than one
successful vaccination schedule is possible. Talk with your veterinarian
about what is best for your pet.
Top
A final thought
Many factors are taken into
consideration when establishing a pet's vaccination plan. Your
veterinarian will tailor a program of vaccinations to help your pet
maintain a lifetime of infectious disease protection.
