This August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which is meant to remind pet owners to check in on their pet’s vaccination needs. Vaccines safeguard cats and dogs against life threatening, contagious, and dangerous diseases like rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and leukemia. Now is the perfect time to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to go over your pet’s vaccination records.
What are Pet Vaccines?
Vaccines prevent illnesses that affect pets, and are the easiest way to make sure your pet lives a long, healthy life. Each vaccine contains antigens, which help prepare the pet’s immune system to fight off diseases. While the antigens aren’t actually an active disease, they look enough like the disease that the pet’s immune system is tricked into a response. Then, if the pet is ever exposed to the disease, his immune system knows how to recognize it, fight it off, and reduce the symptoms or severity of the illness.
Why Pet Vaccinations are So Important
Pet vaccinations manage the health of your pet. While your pet doesn’t need to be vaccinated against every single disease, certain vaccinations are recommended for every pet, starting at a young age. Other vaccinations may be recommended or administered based on the pet’s age, environment, medical history, and lifestyle. Core vaccinations for dogs include parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and rabies. Core vaccinations for cats include distemper, calicivirus, herpesvirus type I, and rabies.
When to Schedule Vaccinations
Your veterinarian will design a vaccination schedule for your pet based on the type of vaccine, your pet’s age, and his medical history and lifestyle. Most puppies start receiving vaccinations at 6-8 weeks old, and these vaccinations continue at 3-4 week intervals with the final dose at 16 weeks. Adult dogs may also receive annual or semi-annual booster shots. Kittens begin receiving vaccinations at 6-8 weeks old, and are administered every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks old. Adult cats may get booster shots every 1-3 years.
Call your veterinarian today if you aren’t sure when your pet was last vaccinated. Your veterinarian will review your pet’s vaccination history and determine if he needs any new vaccinations, or any booster shots.