The Different Types of Pet Vaccinations: What Your Pet Needs and When

Pet vaccinations are an important part of keeping your pet healthy and safe. Vaccinations help protect your pet from diseases and illnesses. They can also help prevent the spread of disease to other animals. Knowing which vaccinations your pet needs and when they need them can be overwhelming. In this post, we will discuss core and non-core vaccines and the timing and frequency of administering them.

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines protect your pet against diseases that are highly contagious, severe, or transmissible to humans. These should be administered to all pet animals, regardless of their risk of exposure. This is because these diseases can devastate the health and well-being of both your pets and you.

The core vaccines for dogs include those that protect them against distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. On the other hand, core vaccines for cats protect them against herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.

The rabies vaccine is essential for controlling the spread of the disease and should be considered an absolute necessity in any region where rabies exists. It’s a preventive measure that not only helps protect animals from suffering but also keeps people safe.

Non-Core Vaccines

Non-core vaccines can be administered to pets, depending on the vaccine’s safety and the likelihood of your pet contracting a disease. Various factors such as location, lifestyle, age, and travel should be considered to determine if your pet needs a certain type of immunization.

For instance, your veterinarian may recommend the Bordetella vaccine for your puppy or dog that frequents daycare, dog parks, kennels, dog shows, and dog training classes. This vaccine guards against Bordetella bronchiseptica, the bacteria most commonly responsible for causing kennel cough in dogs.

Timing and Frequency

Your veterinarian is the best person to determine a vaccination schedule for your fur baby. This will be based on the type of vaccine to be administered, your pet’s age, and any present health concerns. They will also take into account your pet’s lifestyle and environment.

As long as the mother has a healthy immune system, her puppies or kittens can get antibodies from her milk while nursing. Vaccinations should start at six to eight weeks of age to ensure your puppy or kitten has adequate protection against disease. Your veterinarian should give them a minimum of three vaccinations. The intervals are between three to four weeks. The last dose will be given when your puppy or kitten is 16 weeks old.

When it comes to adult dogs and cats, their vaccination will depend on the type of vaccine. Some require vaccination every year. Other times, they might be given a shot every three years or more.

Vaccination is a vital tool in the field of veterinary medicine. It’s regarded as the number one form of defense against serious and sometimes fatal diseases. So, a trip to your veterinarian is important to ensure that your pet’s immunization needs are met. At Port Isabel Animal Clinic, we can examine your pet and recommend the most beneficial vaccinations. Call our facility now in Port Isabel, Texas, at (956) 943-6022 for more information.