August is National Pet Immunization Awareness Month, which was designed to raise awareness of the importance of pet vaccines. Making sure your pet gets the vaccinations he needs prevents serious diseases like rabies, parvovirus, and distemper. Your veterinarian can determine if your pet is overdue for any vaccinations or needs booster shots or monthly preventive medications.
What is a Vaccination?
A pet vaccination is an injection of a killed or altered pathogen that causes disease. The pathogen stimulates the pet’s immune system, so that it knows how to fight the pathogen if it is exposed to it again in the future. If exposed to the disease, your pet will either not get sick, or will have a less severe illness. Vaccinations give your pet the chance to live a long, happy, and healthy life. They also reduce the risk of transmission and can prevent the spread of diseases to humans and other animals.
Which Vaccinations Does Your Pet Need?
Your veterinarian will determine what vaccinations your pet needs based on his age, health, weight, lifestyle, and risk of exposure. Core vaccinations are ones that cats and dogs always need due to their commonality, or the risk of transmission to humans and animals. Core vaccinations for dogs include rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and hepatitis. For cats, core vaccinations include distemper, calicivirus, herpesvirus type I, and rabies.
How Often Should Your Pet Be Vaccinated?
Your pet should get his first round of vaccinations at 6-8 weeks old. Vaccinations will then be administered every 3-4 weeks until your pet is 16 weeks old. Then your pet may need booster shots every 1-3 years to remain protected.
What Else Can You Do to Protect Your Pet?
In addition to vaccinations, you can protect your pet from parasites. Parasites can carry and transmit diseases, cause illness and infection, and damage your pet’s blood and organs. Your veterinarian can prescribe monthly preventive medications that reduce your pet’s risk of infestation. He will determine which ones you need based on your pet’s lifestyle, habits, and risk of exposure.
Ask your veterinarian to review your pet’s vaccination history and determine if it’s time for booster doses or other preventive medication.
