Understanding Pet Vaccinations: What You Need to Know

1. The Importance of Vaccinations

• Disease Prevention: Vaccinations protect pets from infectious diseases like rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and feline leukemia. These diseases can cause severe illness or death, making vaccination an essential preventative measure.
• Herd Immunity: Vaccinating your pet also helps protect other animals in your community by reducing the spread of contagious diseases. Herd immunity is particularly important in areas with high pet populations.

2. Core vs. Non-Core Vaccinations

• Core Vaccinations: These are essential for all pets, regardless of their lifestyle. For dogs, core vaccines include rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. For cats, core vaccines include rabies, feline distemper, and feline calicivirus.
• Non-Core Vaccinations: These vaccines are recommended based on your pet’s specific risk factors, such as lifestyle and environment. For example, dogs that frequent dog parks may need the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine, while outdoor cats may require the feline leukemia vaccine.

3. Vaccination Schedule

• Puppies and Kittens: Young pets typically start their vaccinations at 6-8 weeks of age. Initial vaccines are followed by boosters every 3-4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. This early series of shots is crucial for building immunity.
• Adult Pets: After the initial series, adult pets require booster shots to maintain immunity. Your veterinarian will recommend a schedule, usually every 1-3 years, depending on the vaccine and your pet’s risk factors.

4. Common Vaccinations for Dogs

• Rabies: A fatal disease that affects the nervous system, rabies is transmissible to humans and is required by law in many areas.
• Distemper: A highly contagious virus that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, often fatal.
• Parvovirus: A severe gastrointestinal virus causing vomiting and diarrhea, highly contagious among unvaccinated dogs.
• Adenovirus: Protects against infectious hepatitis, affecting the liver and other organs.

5. Common Vaccinations for Cats

• Rabies: Protects against the deadly rabies virus, which is transmissible to humans.
• Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia): A highly contagious virus causing severe gastrointestinal issues, often fatal in young cats.
• Feline Calicivirus: A respiratory virus causing symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, and oral ulcers.
• Feline Herpesvirus: Another respiratory virus causing eye and nasal discharge, sneezing, and fever.

6. Side Effects and Risks

• Mild Reactions: Most pets experience mild side effects from vaccines, such as soreness at the injection site, mild fever, or lethargy. These symptoms usually resolve within a day or two.
• Severe Reactions: Though rare, severe reactions like allergic responses can occur. Symptoms may include facial swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or hives. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of these signs.

7. Maricamp’s Vaccination Services

• Comprehensive Vaccination Plans: At Maricamp, we provide tailored vaccination plans based on your pet’s age, health status, and lifestyle. Our team ensures your pet receives the necessary core and non-core vaccines to stay protected.
• Ongoing Health Monitoring: During vaccination visits, we also conduct thorough health checks to monitor your pet’s overall well-being and address any concerns you may have.