How Vaccines Benefit Your Pet And You
Getting your pet vaccinated against potentially deadly diseases should be one of your top pet-care priorities. Vaccinations offer a myriad of benefits not only to your pet, but, in some cases, to you and your family. Here is more information about the general benefits of pet vaccines to you, your pet, and your community, as well as what core vaccines are the most important.
How Vaccinations Work
Vaccines consist of either dead or severely weakened versions of the viruses they are designed to protect against. These viruses cannot cause disease, but signal the immune system to make antibodies against them. Then, if your pet encounters the viruses in the future, his or her body will recognize them as invaders and will already have the tools to fight them before they can overwhelm the body.
Benefits of Pet Vaccines
Vaccines have several benefits that protect not just your pet, but also yourself.
Benefits to Your Pet
Many diseases, such as parvo and distemper, are highly contagious and can quickly kill or cause permanent damage to your pet. Even if your pet has little or no contact with other pets, some viruses can still be present in the environment or even carried on your clothing.
Benefits to Yourself
Many animal diseases can easily transfer over to humans. Rabies is a huge example of a deadly virus that is easily transmissible through biting and is potentially present in many wild animals. Leptospirosis is another example of a animal-human transmissible virus that can cause serious illness to both you and your pet.
Important Core Vaccines
In many parts of the country, a rabies vaccine is mandatory for nearly all pet mammals. In some states, certain exclusively indoor or caged pets may forgo the vaccination. Other core vaccines include parvo, adenovirus, and distemper for dogs, and panleukopemia, herpesvirus, and calicivirus for cats. Non-core vaccines are generally those that include diseases local to your area.
Possible Side Effects
With any medical procedure, there are risks, but most pets have no problem with vaccinations. Some pets may experience a short period of fever or lack of appetite, but they will quickly recover. Very rarely will a pet experience an allergic reaction and your veterinarian can administer medication to reduce the chance of a reaction.
It is best to check with your veterinarian for more information about vaccinations. For most pets, vaccine benefits far outweigh any risks. Local laws and the environment may dictate whether or not your pet may need additional vaccinations outside of the core ones. You should also talk to your veterinarian about any side effects or possible allergic reactions to the vaccines. For more information, reach out to companies like Stewartstown Vet Services.
