Vaccinations
Pets need vaccinations, like humans, as part of their preventive health care by reducing the rate of incidence of future diseases. Young pets, especially, are prone to air-borne and contagious diseases that can be detrimental to their health. Veterinarians recommend that pet vaccinations when they are between eight weeks old and four months and until they are 12 to 16 months old – given within a three to four-week interval.
Vaccines initiate immune system responses that ensure protection against common pet diseases. Veterinarians typically administer a series of shots such as Distemper, Para-influenza, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, and Hepatitis in an interval according to your veterinarian's discretion.
You should also inform your pet's doctor of information regarding the pet's access to other animals, its lifestyle, and travel to other places – all of these can increase the risk of contracting diseases. There are "core" vaccines, which are a must for your pet, while there are "non-core" vaccines that are only necessary for pets with special conditions. It is up to your veterinarian's discretion to give "non-core" vaccine shots.
Most pets react very well to vaccines. However, there are rare instances when vaccines do not adequately protect your pet, causing him to become ill. Still, vaccines are important in protecting your pet from acquiring deadly diseases.
Like infants, pets' reaction to vaccines varies. The common adverse effects to look out for after a shot are short-term and mild fever, reduced appetite, and fever. The part of the skin where the needle was inserted may also temporarily swell. These problems with pet vaccinations should be considered normal and will subside after a day or two. However, any symptoms such as excessive swelling and pain, or sluggishness should be referred immediately to your veterinarian.
Adverse responses may occur rarely but if it does, you veterinarian is the best person to report such symptoms as difficulty breathing, body itching, swelling of the legs and face, or collapse. These are signs of allergic reactions and may rarely result to mortality. Some of these allergic reactions may develop several weeks after the shot, which again should be referred to a pet doctor.
Some veterinarians want to schedule pet vaccinations annually but debate on this topic is gaining momentum. The vaccines given to them during their puppy-hood or kitten-hood should aptly provide them with a lifetime of immunity. In fact, some researches were able to prove the effectiveness of vaccines even after a year. Likewise, the feline distemper vaccine was still effective within a seven-year period.
There were studies showing that annual vaccination may trigger physical problems in adult pets. The growth of cancerous tumors in cats and dogs that were vaccinated with rabies annually, are increasing in prevalence. However, this still is yet to be supported by further extensive scientific studies.
Some animal doctors believe a cat's or a dog's immune system is no different than that of humans – and humans don't need vaccines every year. Recently, veterinarians have agreed for regular vaccination in a three-year frequency.
Many veterinarians offer low cost pet vaccinations while government institutions geared for animal protection may give free pet vaccinations. You can inquire information from your local government regarding this. Most pet vaccinations are low cost and could range only between $10 and $15 while rabies vaccinations can cost only about $5.
So if you're still worried about the health of your pet, veterinarians give this advice. Most vaccines don't need to be given annually, unless your pet is highly at risk. However, your pet still need to adhere to annual shots for vaccinations such as a feline leukemia shot and for kennel cough (sometimes given every six months).
To sum it all, pet owners' only concern is for the welfare of their pets even if it means vaccinating them every year. As a pet owner, you should be able to discern a healthy pet from a sickly one.