{"id":138,"date":"2017-08-23T19:42:15","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T23:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.pawboost.com\/index.php\/2017\/08\/23\/2017-8-23-pet-immunization-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important\/"},"modified":"2023-09-08T16:16:33","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T20:16:33","slug":"2017-8-23-pet-immunization-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pawboost.com\/blog\/2017-8-23-pet-immunization-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Immunization \u2013 What Is It and Why Is It Important?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pet Immunization \u2013 What Is It and Why Is It Important?<\/h1>\n

Ensuring that your pet is properly immunized from disease is one of the best and easiest you can help keep your furry loved ones healthy and strong.<\/p>\n

Vaccines prepare the body\u2019s defense system to fight invasion by disease-causing organisms by helping the body to recognize foreign invaders. Vaccines contain antigens, which are weakened or dead virus cells that do not produce symptoms of the disease or infection. When introduced into your pet\u2019s system, these antigens mildly stimulate the immune system, causing the body to produce antibodies and memory cells of the disease in response. Now your pet\u2019s immune system can recognize and fight off infection should they be exposed to the real disease in the future.<\/p>\n

And just like for humans, our four-legged family members should have annual\/regular health check-ups with a veterinarian as well as a routine of vaccinations and booster shots to help their immune systems prevent illness.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: skeeze via Pixabay<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

What Types of Immunizations Should I Consider?<\/h2>\n

In 2003 (revised in 2006, 2011 and 2022), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released a set of timing guidelines and other best practices for veterinarians administering canine vaccinations.<\/a> As outlined within these guidelines, there are two main categories of vaccinations that your pets can receive: core vaccines and non-core vaccines.<\/p>\n

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA<\/a>), core vaccines are considered vital to all pets based on \u201crisk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans.\u201d These sets of vaccines include protections against such diseases as distemper, rabies, canine parovirus and canine hepatitis in dogs and distemper, feline calicivirus, rabies and feline herpes in cats.<\/p>\n

Non-core vaccines may be recommended by your veterinarian based on the specifics of your pet\u2019s lifestyle \u2013 such as the pet\u2019s age, medical history, travel habits (e.g. whether are they outdoor or are boarded animals), environment (e.g. whether they are often around other pets or live in a more solitary environment), etc. \u2013 and can include protections against diseases such as influenza and Lyme disease in dogs and feline leukemia and other respiratory illnesses for cats.<\/p>\n

\" Photo Credit: skeeze via Pixabay<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

When Should I get My Pet Vaccinated?<\/h2>\n

Similar to infant humans, puppies and kittens should receive doses of particular core infectious vaccines to help prime, immunize and boost their immune system response at an early age. It is recommended that puppies and kittens begin their vaccination routines between 8 to 16 weeks of age every 3 to 4 weeks, with the final dose being administered at 16 weeks of age. It is also worth noting that every dog and cat is different \u2013 so it is best to work with your veterinarian to determine a tailored vaccination plan that is right for your fur baby.<\/p>\n

You pets will also need regular booster shots as they mature to ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date and still protecting their health. But it\u2019s likely that your pet may no longer need annual booster updates as was previous best practice. According to the AAHA guidelines, pending that your puppy or kitten received their initial series of core vaccinations within the proper timeframe, your pet may only need booster vaccine shots every three years due to increased effectiveness and safety of routine vaccinations.<\/p>\n

However, organizations like AAHA and the ASPCA stress the importance of continuing to schedule a routine annual veterinary check-up for your pet. Not only are these check-ups important for monitoring your pet\u2019s health status for conditions such as cancer or heart disease, but your local veterinarian can also decide during these appointments whether your pet is due for a booster update. By running a blood test called a titer, your veterinarian can most effectively determine how much of the vaccine is still active in your pet\u2019s system.<\/p>\n

See below for the recommended core and non-core vaccination schedules for dogs and cats (as compiled and reviewed by WebMd professionals in 2016<\/a>):<\/p>\n

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What Should I Do If My Pet Has An Adverse Recation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Though most pets experience no ill effect from the vaccination process, there is always the possibility that your pet may have an adverse reaction to the injection. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association<\/a>, it\u2019s important to monitor your pet\u2019s behavior within the first few hours following a vaccine injection for any adverse reactions.<\/p>\n

Though these reactions are generally mild, you should plan to contact your veterinary professional if pet experiences any of the following symptoms for more than a day or is experiencing major discomfort from these symptoms:<\/p>\n