Pet Vaccinations
If you’ve owned a pet for years, you probably already know that vaccinations are imperative to his health and wellbeing. New pet parents, however, may have their reservations concerning pet vaccines. At Prairie Creek Pet Hospital in Sioux Falls, we can explain more about vaccinations and the protection they provide. By learning more about pet vaccinations, you can make knowledgeable decisions concerning your pet’s health. Here are some basic facts you should know about pet vaccines.
What Are Vaccines?
Vaccines are healthcare products designed to protect your pet against life threatening diseases. Vaccines stimulate your pet’s immune system to create antibodies to fight infections that can destroy his health or cause his early demise. Vaccinations play an important role in preventative pet care. They not only protect your pet against disease, they prevent the spreading of diseases to other animals and people.
Types of Vaccines
Pet vaccinations fall into two categories: core and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are considered vital to your pet’s health, while non-core vaccines are given as recommended by your veterinary specialist, depending on where you live and your pet’s lifestyle.
Core vaccines for dogs are:
- Rabies
- Distemper
- Parvo-Virus
- Parainfluenza
- Hepatitis
Core vaccines for cats are:
- Rabies
- Feline Distemper
- Feline Calicivirus and
- Feline Rhinotracheiti
Your Sioux Falls veterinary specialist can administer these vaccines during your pet’s annual wellness exam. We’ll also administer boosters on a regular basis to keep his protection strong over the years.
Puppy and Kitten Vaccinations
As baby pets’ immune systems aren’t fully developed, they need a series of vaccines to protect them from dangerous diseases after they’ve been weaned. Vaccinations generally start when they’re 6 to 8 weeks old and continue every 2 to 4 weeks until your kit or pup reaches 14-16 weeks of age. Once the series is done, we’ll personalize a vaccination schedule for your pet to provide the future protection he needs.
What about Indoor Pets?
Indoor pets need vaccinations just as much as outdoor pets. Your indoor cat could slip outside at some point in time and be exposed to a disease, or he could be exposed at a pet boarding facility. It’s much easier to prevent a pet disease than it is to treat it. Vaccinations can save your pet from enduring the pain and suffering of a preventative disease. They can also save you from having to pay for lengthy treatments of preventative infectious diseases.
See Your Sioux Falls Veterinary Expert for Pet Vaccinations
Why risk the health of your pet when vaccinations can provide the protection he needs? Contact Prairie Creek Pet Hospital in Sioux Falls at (605) 339-8900 today to schedule vaccinations for your kit or pup. We're here to meet all your pet care needs.
