Vaccinations

Proper vaccination is a critical step in the prevention of contagious and potentially life-threatening diseases. It is far easier to vaccinate to prevent diseases such as distemper or parvovirus than it is to try to treat the illness. In fact, several diseases that are preventable with proper vaccination, cannot be successfully treated and can kill a beloved pet. This includes diseases such as feline leukemia, distemper and many cases of parvovirus. It is very important that your pet’s vaccinations are kept current and that you discuss vaccinations with your veterinarian, so that your pet can be properly vaccinated at the proper intervals.

Not every pet needs every vaccination, but all pets need some vaccinations. Your veterinarian will examine your pet and make recommendations for your pet’s individualized vaccination protocol. This decision will be based on several different factors, including your pet’s age, prior vaccination history, potential exposure to diseases and lifestyle. So a 10 year old dog that never leaves the house will require different vaccinations than a two year old show dog.  And, an indoor cat requires potentially fewer vaccinations than one that lives or spends a great deal of time outside.  And, all puppies and kittens require a series of vaccines to build proper immune protection against disease. Once your pet is an adult, they will need some vaccines annually while others will be updated at longer intervals.

Recommended vaccinations in our area include:

We recommend that all pets be examined prior to receiving vaccinations. This ensures that your pet is as healthy as possible, so the vaccines will work correctly. Pets with illnesses, organ problems or parasites may not be able to respond properly to the vaccines and the vaccines may not work as well when needed. Your veterinarian may recommend fecal examination, blood screening or other laboratory tests to make sure that your pet is in tiptop shape before being vaccinated.

Many of the vaccines listed previously are given as combination injections. So you’ll find that your pet is vaccinated against several contagious illnesses with only one injection. Additionally, the doctor will also let you know if your pet requires boosters of the vaccines and when, so that your pet is properly vaccinated and protected. With young pets, a newly adopted pet, a stray or an animal with unknown or poor vaccination history, boosters may be required to build the proper immune protective response, usually within 3 to 4 weeks of the initial vaccination.

Your veterinarian at Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center will tailor a vaccine plan specifically  to meet your pet’s needs and risks. Some pets will need some vaccines every year, some will have blood tests to check their immunity levels and some vaccines are given every third year. We understand that you may have many questions about the proper vaccines for your pet. We look forward to answering any questions you may have.

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