The Importance of Vaccinations and Their Different Types

Vaccinating your dog or cat is one of the most essential steps in assuring that they will have a healthy life. Like people, animals need vaccines regularly for proper effectiveness. But vaccines can become complicated and can vary from one pet to another. Asking your veterinarian which vaccines are right for your dog or cat (especially if they are a puppy or kitten getting their vaccines for the first time) is the best place to start.

What are Vaccines?

Vaccines are products designed to enable protective immune responses and prepare the immune system for combating future infections from disease-causing agents. They stimulate the immune system’s antibody production and can provide immunity against several diseases. Vaccines can ease the severity, or even prevent, some diseases completely.

Essential Vaccines for Pets

It is important to know that necessary vaccines differ between dogs and cats. While dogs need one kind of vaccine set for diseases that they come into contact with often, cats need another set for the diseases that they come into contact with. Some essential vaccines for a dog or cat (such as a rabies vaccine) are even requiring by law to have.

Essential Vaccines for Dogs:

• Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus (DHPP) - This all-in-one combination vaccination shot is commonly called the ‘distemper shot’. It protects against the four diseases in its name. 
• Rabies - The rabies virus is fatal in both pets and humans. The rabies vaccine is required by law in most states.  

Your veterinarian may also recommend additional vaccines for your dog based on where you live and your dog’s lifestyle:

• Leptospirosis - This bacterial infection is most common in moist climates where there are standing or slow-moving water areas. This is a disease that can also be spread from animals to humans. 
• Bordetella (‘Kennel Cough’) - A virus that causes an extremely contagious upper respiratory infection and cough. Your veterinarian may recommend this vaccine before your dog goes to a dog park, kennel, groomer, or anywhere else where there are other dogs that possibly haven’t had their shots. 
• Lyme Disease - A bacterial infection carried by ticks. This disease is extremely common in certain parts of the country (both the East and West coasts and the Great Lakes areas, especially). 
• Canine Influenza - A viral upper respiratory disease that originated in Florida in 2004 and has quickly spread across the United States. Outbreaks happen often in animal shelters and kennels. 
• Corona Virus - A virus that infects the intestinal tract and is more common in the Southern United States. 

Essential Vaccines for Cats:

• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicvirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP) - The feline ‘distemper shot’. This combination vaccine protects against three different diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicvirus and panleukopenia (known as ‘Feline Distemper’). 
• Rabies - Like dogs, rabies is deadly for cats and a rabies shot is required by law in most of the United States. 

Additional Vaccines for Your Cat:

• Chlamydia - A bacterial infection that causes severe conjuctivitis. The vaccination for it is often included in the distemper combo vaccine. 
• Feline Leukemia (Felv) - A viral infection that is only transmitted through close contact and this vaccine is generally only recommended for outdoor cats. 
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) - Like feline leukemia, FIV is only transmitted through close contact and is generally only recommended for cats that go outdoors. 
• Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) - A viral infection most common in feral colonies, it is almost always fatal. Most house cats don’t run a significant risk of contracting this disease. 

When it comes to making sure that your pet receives their vaccines on time (which is essential), be sure to create a schedule to follow from the time your pet receives their latest vaccine to the time suggested by your veterinarian.