Vaccines are given to your pet to insure that their immune system is able to fight off certain diseases should they encounter them. Vaccines are composed of a killed or modified version of the “bad guys” that cause the disease. By administering them we are essentially teaching your pet’s immune system how to recognize and destroy the “bad guys” before they could cause your pet to become seriously ill. A “booster” vaccine, usually containing the same elements as the first, is given 3-4 weeks later to provide even greater immunity. Your pet's response to this second vaccine is called the anemnistic response. When cats and dogs become adults their immune systems are more developed and boosters are only needed every 1 to 3 years depending on the vaccine type and whether your pet will be likely to be in situations that would expose him/her to the disease.
Puppies and kittens start out life with varying amounts of immunity depending on components of their mother’s immune system that they receive in their mother’s milk. Under 6 weeks of age their immune system is not developed enough to make a good response to a vaccine. This makes it important for you to make sure that they do not come into contact with other animals or places that may harbor disease until their immune system further develops. At 6-8 weeks they can receive their first vaccine. From there your veterinarian will advise you on how many boosters will be necessary for each disease to achieve the best protection for your pet. Although some diseases can affect both cats and dogs (like rabies) many affect only cats or only dogs, which is why your puppy’s vaccine plan may not be the same as your kitten’s.
For years veterinarians vaccinated dogs & cats for everything possible to vaccinate against on a yearly basis. We now look at the risks versus benefits of vaccinating and tailor a specific vaccine schedule for your pet. At your visit we can determine what protection your own pet needs and how often he/she should receive these vaccines.
To learn more click on one of the links below.
|
|
|
|
FELINE Vaccines |
CANINE Vaccines |
