Vaccine Awareness

When was the last time your pet received their vaccinations? If it’s been longer than a year, now is the time to check in with your veterinarian! August is Pet Immunization Awareness Month which reminds pet parents to vaccinate their furry best friends against contagious and potentially deadly diseases.

Just like humans need certain vaccines to prevent them from developing very dangerous illnesses, pets should be vaccinated, too. Depending on where you live, your pet may be required to receive certain vaccinations against things like rabies in order to legally be out in public. Other vaccines are considered “core” vaccines to protect your pet against some of the most common diseases for their species.

Puppies and kittens begin receiving vaccines at 6 to 8 weeks of age and are updated every 3 to 4 weeks, to make sure they are protected. Once they are one year regular exams and vaccinations should be a part of your pet’s routine preventative care. By immunizing your cat or dog, you can give them the best opportunity to live a safe and healthy life.

The effects of immunization may not last forever, though. This is why veterinarians recommend that your pet receive vaccine updates each year to help them maintain immunity.

Vaccines for pets (and humans) are not guaranteed to prevent your pet from getting sick 100 percent of the time. However, they are an effective way of preventing illness in most cases. Even if your pet does get sick, they may be able to fight the disease more effectively and have less severe symptoms if they have been vaccinated.

Please don’t take your pets to public places like the dog park, pet store, or the beach until they are fully vaccinated!

When you are ready to schedule your furry best friend’s vaccine appointment we are here for you!