Importance of Vaccinations for New Pets

Vaccination is the number one defense against some of the nastiest diseases in pets. Vaccinating your four-legged best friend is essential to pet health care. Veterinary medicine considers vaccination a cornerstone of preventative care.

Are you skeptical about the importance of vaccines and booster shots? Read on to find out how your new pet can benefit from immunization.

Understanding Vaccines and Boosters

Vaccines refer to health products designed to set off immune responses in animals. This will help prepare them to fight against future infections. Some vaccines can reduce the severity of future diseases. Others can keep your pet from becoming infected altogether.

Vaccines are either core or non-core. Core vaccines refer to those vaccines that every pet should get. This is because the disease it protects against is highly infectious, difficult to treat, and fatal or harmful to people. There are several core vaccines for dogs. These include those that protect against parvovirus, distemper, and adenovirus. The core vaccines for cats defend against panleukopenia, herpesvirus, and calicivirus. Additionally, rabies is a core vaccine in any area where this viral disease exists. This is crucial for keeping both the animal and human populations safe.

Why Herd Immunity Matters

The primary benefit of vaccinations and boosters is the drop in the number of infections and pets dying from diseases. When many pets are vaccinated, the herd effect serves both the vaccinated animals and all animals in the population. The vaccinated ones are less likely to become ill from the disease for which they've been vaccinated. On the other hand, there's a reduced risk of exposure to the disease for other pets.

Herd effect is a form of indirect protection against infectious diseases. It occurs when the vaccination received by a high percentage of the population provides a measure of protection for those that haven't developed immunity. When a significant part of the population has protection against a certain virus or bacteria, it becomes difficult for a disease to spread. This happens since there are so few in the population left to infect.

Does Vaccination Guarantee 100% Protection?

For most animals, vaccination works and is effective in preventing future infections. However, there are times when a vaccinated pet may not develop adequate immunity. This rarely happens, but these pets can still become ill. Breakdowns in protection may occur. But most pets that have been successfully vaccinated never show signs of infection or disease. This makes vaccination an essential part of your beloved fur baby's preventive health care.

Like humans, your pet can have protection from certain diseases through vaccination. Visiting your veterinarian once a year or as needed is highly recommended. This way, you can keep your new pet's vaccinations up-to-date.

Do you want to ensure your beloved animal companion stays safe and healthy? Visit Vet Express today in Port of Spain, Trinidad, to discuss which vaccines are necessary for your pet. Call our office today at 868-221-2257 to book an appointment.