August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which is the perfect time to evaluate your pet’s vaccination records and make sure he’s up to date on his immunizations. Vaccinations keep disease away from your pets, and help them live a long, happy, and healthy life. Your veterinarian can go over your pet’s vaccination history and schedule any booster shots your pet might need.
Why Do Pets Need Vaccinations?
Your pets need vaccinations to protect them from dangerous viruses, bacteria, and parasites that can be transmitted by other animals, through animal droppings, and through shared food and water bowls. Vaccines contain antigens, which the immune system recognizes as a disease even though they don’t carry any active form of the disease. The immune system’s response is stimulated, and if your pet is ever exposed to the real disease, his immune system will know how to fight it off.
What Vaccinations Do Cats & Dogs Need?
Dogs and cats need core vaccinations that begin when they are 6-8 weeks old. Vaccinations continue every 3-4 weeks until the pet is 16 weeks old. At that point, adult pets may need booster shots every 1-3 years. Dogs should be vaccinated against canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies, and cats should be vaccinated against panleukopenia (feline distemper), feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus type I (rhinotracheitis) and rabies.
What Monthly Medications Should Pets Take?
In addition to vaccinations, monthly preventive medications can also keep your pet healthy. These medications prevent infestations from parasites that can carry disease, cause infection, and damage your pet’s organs and blood. Ask your veterinarian to recommend monthly protection from:
- Heartworm
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
- Whipworms
- Tapeworms
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Mites
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian today to review your pet’s vaccination record. If your pet needs any vaccinations, monthly medications, or booster shots, your veterinarian can schedule them.
