Importance of Staying Current on Pet Vaccinations

When life gets busy it can be tricky to make time for what we view as non-essential appointments, such as dental check-ups and eye tests. Something that may get overlooked or delayed is your pet’s visit for their vaccination boosters. If your pet has previously been vaccinated, it is easy to think that being a few days or weeks late with their appointment is not anything to worry about. However, it could have bigger consequences than you expect.

 

Here is why it’s important to make sure that your pet receives their vaccinations on time, every time.

 

How vaccines work

To appreciate why it is crucial to stay current on pet vaccinations, you first need to understand how they work. Vaccinations in animals work in exactly the same way as they do in humans. Vaccines work by triggering an immune response within the body to fight against the disease they are to protect your pet from, without them ever actually coming into contact with the harmful disease itself.  

 

There are lots of different vaccines to protect against lots of different diseases, and over the years, they have saved countless lives of animals around the world. These vaccines are divided into core and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are those which are given to all animals of their particular species regardless of how old they are, where they live, or what their health is like. Some of the core vaccines for dogs include parvovirus, distemper, and canine hepatitis, while core vaccines for cats include feline distemper, herpesvirus, and calicivirus.

 

The importance of staying up to date on vaccines

Although experts can make a fairly accurate guess as to how long vaccines are effective for, and this is used to create the schedule of vaccinations that your vet will create for your pet, it is important to remember that every animal is different. This means that some animals may find that their protection against disease starts to wear off more quickly than others. This happens because their body forgets how to produce the antibodies needed to fight it. The recommended schedule is based on the earliest time at which the vaccination is believed to start to lose effectiveness, but if you are late getting your pet’s boosters, they could be left vulnerable to serious and even deadly diseases.

 

You also may not be aware that you could be breaking the law by failing to get your pet vaccinated at the appropriate time. Many states have laws that require owners to have their pets vaccinated against certain contagious diseases and to be able to provide proof of these vaccinations. If you do not meet this requirement, you could be in breach of the law and the repercussions can be severe. Depending on your state, you could receive a hefty fine, have your pet removed and quarantined, and, in very severe circumstances, some animals have even been euthanized.

 

Finally, vaccinations play a crucial role in community protection too. Many animal diseases can be passed onto humans, meaning that if your pet contracts them, your two-legged family could be at risk too. They could also spread diseases to other pets and even wildlife in the area, potentially leading to it getting out of control. A responsible owner will protect their pet and others by ensuring that they are properly vaccinated, on time every time.

 

To learn more about pet vaccinations, contact Dr. Mike’s Affordable Vet Care in Arlington, Texas at (817) 663-8160  to book an appointment today.