When you bring a pet home, you know that she depends on you, well, for everything. It’s your responsibility to take care of all her needs, from grooming and nutrition to health care. Speaking of pet health care, vaccinations should be one of the critical considerations if you want to see your cat or dog’s health flourish. But are vaccines safe? What vaccines do I need for my cat or dog? If you need to learn more about pet vaccinations, we at San Angelo Veterinary Hospital serving San Angelo, TX, are here to shed more light on this preventive practice in pet care. A veterinarian or vet at our animal hospital can give your pet veterinary preventative care such as vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, and more
How Do Vaccines Work?
Vaccines usually contain a weakened part of an infection that boosts the body’s immune system when it encounters it. When the vaccine is introduced by a veterinarian at our animal hospital into the body, it boosts your immune system against disease-causing microorganisms. Even when the body contracts the disease, the chances of symptoms becoming severe can be lower.
What Vaccines Should I Consider for My Pet?
Pet vaccines are either core or non-core. A vet or veterinarian will recommend core vaccines for all pets, while non-core vaccines are recommended based on the pet’s medical history, locality, and lifestyle. Examples of core vaccines include:
If you own a dog, consider the following core vaccines:
- Rabies — causes brain inflammation and can be spread from one animal to another and even to humans
- Canine Distemper virus — attacks the dog’s nervous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal system
- Hepatitis — canine hepatitis is an acute infection that damages the liver
Non-core vaccines you can consider for your dog include Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and kennel cough.
If you own a kitten or cat, you should consider the following core vaccines:
- Rabies — like in dogs, rabies affects the nervous system and can be spread to humans.
- Feline calicivirus — it’s an upper respiratory disease.
- Feline Distemper — it’s may be severe in kittens than cats and affects the nervous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal system.
- Feline rhinotracheitis
Non-core vaccines you can consider for cats include giardia, Chlamydophila Felis and feline leukemia virus.
Benefits of Vaccines
Jittery about pet vaccinations? You don’t have to be. Vaccines are rigorously tested before being administered to your animal. Besides, considering vaccines for your pet yields numerous benefits, including:
- Improves your pet’s ability to fight diseases
- Protects your family against zoonotic diseases
- It’s in compliance with the law in most places
- Boosts your pet’s chances of being admitted to pet-friendly hotels and boarding facilities
Book with a Veterinarian with Our Pet Hospital in San Angelo, TX
Is your pet vaccination schedule up to date? If not, it’s time to schedule an appointment with our pet hospital in San Angelo, TX. At San Angelo Veterinary Hospital, we offer numerous vet care and preventative care services, including vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention services. Call us at (325) 653-3301.