August is National Immunization Month, and though this month-long awareness event is primarily focused on human beings, it’s an excellent opportunity to share the importance of dog and cat vaccines for their overall health and wellness. So, let’s go over your dog and cat vaccine questions and get you some answers!
What Are Vaccines?
Vaccines are synonymous in most of our minds with needles, but in reality, that’s only one form of vaccination. Merriam-Webster defines a vaccine as “a preparation that is administered to stimulate the body’s immune response against a specific infectious agent or disease.”
Until the very recent introduction of RNA vaccines, the vast majority of vaccinations were weakened or inactivated viruses. Technically, you can create vaccines for non-viruses like poisons and toxins, but the most commonly accepted definition (and the one used for dog and cat vaccines) involves viruses.
Why Do Our Pets Need Vaccines?
Vaccinating our pets is mainly to protect them from common sicknesses that can damage their health. But there are two other essential reasons for dog and cat vaccines.
– Protecting the general population—Vaccinating your pets also protects the rest of the pet population. That’s especially important for young, old, and immune-compromised dogs and cats, who are less likely to be able to handle a vaccination.
– Legal and Safety Reasons—Dogs are legally required to get rabies vaccines in many municipalities. Proving your dog is vaccinated can save his or her life in the event it bites someone.
What Vaccines Do Dogs Need?
Some of the most important vaccines for dogs are rabies and DA2PP, but others are available and may be relevant to your dog.
Rabies is a debilitating disease carried by several mammals that can kill a dog. In addition to the dangers to the infected animals, rabies makes dogs aggressive, making them a threat to the people and animals around them. You should vaccinate puppies against rabies at 3 to 4 months old and get them boosters every one to three years.
DA2PP stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, and Parainfluenza and is also known as a combo vaccine. All of these diseases are dangerous to your dog’s health, but parvo is the most deadly. As puppies, your dogs will get multiple rounds of this vaccination, followed by boosters at year one and then every three years.
Other common dog vaccines are canine influenza, Lyme, bordetella (kennel cough), and Lepto Bacteria.
What Vaccines Do Cats Need?
Like dogs, cats should be vaccinated for rabies every three years after their initial kitten vaccinations. Also, like dogs, rabies is extremely dangerous for cats.
The feline combo vaccination FVRCP protects against the other most common cat viruses: feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR – a highly contagious respiratory herpes virus), Calicici virus (C), and feline leukemia. After the initial round of cat vaccines, you should vaccinate your cat with a booster every one to three years.
How Do I Keep Track of My Dog and Cat Vaccine Schedule?
On this question, we have some good news. At Old Dominion Veterinary Clinic, we keep a record of all your dog and cat vaccines, when they were last administered, and when the next ones are due. It’s all part of your pets’ medical records, and you can see the last vaccines and when the next dog and cat vaccines are due on every bill and printout we give you.
While it’s still good to have some awareness of when your dog and cat vaccines are due, we’re happy to offer an extra layer of care to keep your dog and cats happy and healthy.
Schedule Your Dog and Cat Vaccines and Other Wellness Appointments Today!
As your friendly Troutville veterinary clinic, Old Dominion is here for all your dog and cat vaccines and other wellness needs! Give us a call if you have a new pet or have one in need of a wellness checkup.