WHY SHOULD I VACCINATE MY DOG OR CAT ?

The purpose of vaccinations is to prevent disease. At this time, the majority of vaccines are made to combat viruses in dogs and cats.

These vaccines provide protection from viruses such as:

• Distemper( pneumonia and meningitis)
• Lyme disease ( fever, lameness, flu like symptoms)
• Leptosporsis ( kidney and liver infections)
• Parvo ( deadly vomiting, bloody diarrhea, heart failure)
• Panleukepenia ( feline version of parvo),
• Feline leukemia ( cancer ),
• Rabies ( meningitis, seizures)
• Corona virus ( similar to parvo virus, but not as pathogenic in most cases.)

Prior to vaccines, people and pets frequently died from viral infections. Through scientific advancement and understanding of viruses and the immune system, vaccines have been developed. Since the advent of vaccines, death due to viruses that have a vaccine available has significantly declined.

When a normal, healthy puppy or kitten is born, his/her immune system is considered naïve. It has not been exposed to foreign substances or viruses. Through her mother's milk, the puppy/ kitten will gain some immunity from those viruses her mother is protected against. Unfortunately, this maternal immunity is temporary. In the first 5 to 6 weeks of life, the mother's antibodies are sufficient to keep the puppy immune from most common viruses. At about 5 to 6 weeks, this immunity begins to wane.

Contact your veterinarian today to ensure that we keep our puppies and kittens happy and healthy and free from the common, deadly viruses.