One of the most responsible decisions you can make as a pet owner is ensuring your furry friend is vaccinated. Pets can suffer from several diseases that cause significant health complications or death if left unvaccinated. Fortunately, your veterinarian near me at Highway 71 Veterinary Hospital in Cedar Creek, TX, can ensure your pet maintains a long and healthy life thanks to pet vaccines. Learn more about pet vaccinations and how they protect your pet from diseases below.
Understanding Vaccines and Their Importance
These shots stimulate your pet’s immune system to help it fight off pathogens. Vaccines have tiny amounts of killed or inactive organisms in them. Injecting these dead microorganisms in your pet helps its immune system learn how to identify and destroy these harmful pathogens.
Distemper, rabies, and other diseases can be deadly to your pets. Some illnesses, such as rabies, can even be lethal to humans. These diseases also spread effortlessly among the general pet population. Many vaccines are required to curb these issues. For example, the rabies vaccine is required by law, and boarding facilities often demand pets get vaccinated for Bordetella. Some of the benefits of vaccinating your pet include:
• Protection from potentially fatal diseases
• Lower risk of needing costly care to save pets
• Protection for you and other people from these diseases
When Do Pets Begin Receiving Vaccinations?
Your veterinarian near me often recommends beginning vaccinations when your pet is six weeks old. However, your pet’s vaccination schedule may vary based on health, size, and weight. Your veterinarian can tell you when to begin vaccinating your pet during its first wellness visit.
Puppies and kittens typically receive a series of shots in their first year. After that, pets may require boosters once a year or every few years. Other non-core vaccines might be on an as-needed basis.
What Vaccines Should My Pets Get?
Core vaccinations are ones that all pets should get. These vaccines include:
• Rabies
• Canine parvovirus and distemper
• Hepatitis
• Feline calicivirus
• Feline panleukopenia
• Feline rhinotracheitis
Your veterinarian may recommend non-core vaccines based on your pet’s environment and lifestyle. These vaccines include:
• Bordetella
• Canine influenza
• Lyme disease
• Leptospirosis
• Feline infectious peritonitis
• Feline leukemia
• Chlamydia felis
Visit Our Vet in Cedar Creek, TX, to Vaccinate Your Pet Today
Vaccinating your pet is one of the best decisions you can make regarding its future health and well-being. If you need a “veterinarian near me” to vaccinate your pet or recommend vaccines your pet should get, look no further than Highway 71 Veterinary Hospital in Cedar Creek, TX. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (512) 303-5444 to ensure your pet lives a long, healthy life.