If you have a pet, you are probably wondering how you can take care of its health. Ideally, you should always take them to a veterinary consultation, so you can receive clear and detailed information about the ideal care they should have, including vaccinations in pets, which will depend on their species.
Pet vaccinations, how important can they be?
Vaccinations in pets are very important, since it will depend on them to offer a good quality of life to your pet. That is why it is very important to take pets to a veterinary consultation, the earlier the better. In this way, you can keep a good control of your pet’s health, prevent diseases and solve any inconvenience quickly and without complications.
In the particular case of vaccines, pets are also susceptible to certain diseases just like humans. Therefore, preventing them from being seriously affected by applying vaccines will allow them to enjoy a healthier and longer life.
But it is not only about the pet health, as it is also about human health, mainly of those who live with the pets. As vaccines protect our pets from common pet diseases, also prevent them from transmitting those diseases to us.
What are the most important vaccinations for pets?
The most convenient thing to do is to visit a veterinarian and get all the corresponding vaccines for your pet. In this way, you will be able to offer them good immunity and thus improve their quality of life.
But how do veterinarians know which and when to vaccinate pets? Generally, veterinary hospitals and clinics take as a reference the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines.
Depending on each pet, the amount and distribution of vaccinations may vary. So here there is a brief summary of the vaccinations needed for dogs and cats, which are commonly followed:
Vaccinations for dogs
In general terms, every dog from 6 weeks of age will require three basic vaccines, which are: hepatitis or adenovirus, distemper and parvovirus. After receiving the first dose, the dose should be repeated every three weeks until the dog is 16 weeks old.
In the case of adult dogs from 1 year of age, it is necessary to repeat the above mentioned vaccines. As time goes by, the vaccination periods will be less recurrent.
Now, although these are the basic vaccines, there are others that should be added depending on the animal’s lifestyle. For example, in the case of dogs that are normally walked in the woods or simply spend a large part of the day outdoors, it is important to include the “leptospirosis” vaccine.
While in the case of canines that go to foster homes or residences where there are many dogs, “infectious tracheitis” is recommended. On the other hand, “Leishmania” is a vaccine associated with those who live in the Mediterranean, since the kind of mosquito that contracts the disease live in these areas. This can cause serious health problems. Although this last vaccine does not protect them completely, at least it considerably reduces the probability of contagion.
Regarding the rabies vaccine, it is usually mandatory in most areas worldwide. However, there are always some exceptions. Nevertheless, it is best to include this vaccine in order to protect your canine friend and the rest of your family.
Vaccines for cats
The basic vaccination protocol is the same as for dogs. In the case of cats, the following vaccines should be given: calicivirus, herpesvirus and feline parvovirus.
In the case of having several cats in the house, it is usually advisable to include the “chlamydophila” vaccine. And in some cases, the vaccine against “leukemia” is included too. The last one is optional, because before its application, the cat must first be examined in order to determine if it has the disease or not. Many felines acquire it during gestation or while nursing. If the test is positive, there is no sense in applying the vaccine, but if it is negative, it would be ideal to include it.
Now, the rabies vaccine must be given to cats, just like dogs. In fact, it is required in many places internationally. Whether you plan to travel with your pet or not, it is worth having this vaccine.
It is important to keep in mind that for an optimal control, your pet should visit the veterinarian at least once a year and you should always have the vaccination record available in order to control that your pet is up to date with them.
