The Importance of Pet Vaccination in Lenexa KS

by | Jun 29, 2015 | Animal Hospital

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As the owner of a cat or dog, you probably hear a lot about the shots your pet must have. However, you may not know much about them. Vaccinations are a way to protect your pet from the disease. During a vaccination, a modified strain of a virus, parasite or bacteria is given to your pet, triggering an immune response against that particular disease.

Shots For Younger Pets

Veterinarians often recommend giving kittens and puppies their first shots when they’re about six weeks old. Animals should be vaccinated at a young age, because the natural immunity within mother’s milk wears off over time. According to the AVMA, shots are scheduled three or four weeks apart, with the final series given at about 16 weeks of age.

Annual Shots

Booster shots may be required to keep vaccine levels sufficiently high to protect your pet. Most pet owners keep up with shots; according to an AVMA source, almost 65% of dog and cat owners paid for vaccinations during their last vet visit. However, not all shots are completely effective, and a pet may still become ill if they don’t develop enough immunity, but the benefits of Pet Vaccination in Lenexa KS outweigh the concerns.

Core And Non-Core Shots

Shots for dogs and cats fall into two categories: core & non-core. The core vaccines are recommended for pets with unknown vaccination histories, and non-core shots are those that may be appropriate based on your pet’s risk factors. Core shots for dogs include:

*      Parvovirus

*      Canine distemper

*      Adenovirus

*      Rabies

Optional vaccines include:

*      Canine parainfluenza

*      Measles/distemper combo shot

*      Bordetella

*      Leptospira

*      Lyme disease

*      Giardia

There are core vaccines for cats as well. Cats should receive shots for feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus, panleukopenia and rabies. Optional shots are for feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency, infectious peritonitis, chlamydophila felis and bordetella.

Get The Facts

It’s important to keep in mind that vaccines aren’t 100% effective, and a vaccinated pet may not have enough immunity to prevent sickness. Despite that, the advantages of vaccination far outweigh the disadvantages. As a pet owner, you can Visit Website to learn why Pet Vaccination in Lenexa KS is the best thing you can do to protect your cat or dog from a life threatening disease.