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Common Pet Vaccinations

Submitted by Michael Adams on February 9, 2010

Pet vaccinations require your veterinarian’s suggestions and these depend upon basic breed type, age, gender and other health conditions. Rabies is the one disease that pets are easily prone to as they may have been bitten by another rabid animal and the injury may not be easily visible to the owner. Regular anti-rabies shots are essential for your pet and if bitten it would be best to revaccinate and keep the dog under observation for 45 days at least.

Adult dogs are usually given a 6 in one vaccination called DHLPP, for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvovirus. These including the bordetella vaccine are given once in a year while regular rabies vaccination is done once in three years. As regards cats, the FVRCP, to fight against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia and Chlamydia is administered once in a year and rabies shots can be given once in three years or as per your veterinarian’s suggestions.

Vaccinations stimulate the immune system by using a weakened or a killed form of the disease causing organism which is medically referred to as an antigen. The injection of these antigens into the body causes it to produce antibodies that act as a protective shield. In future, if and when the real disease strikes, the body will be experienced in battling that particular strain of disease. Vaccinations are best administered to healthy animals that are not stressed out and it can take about a week for the pet to respond to it. Not all vaccinations are given by injection, some of them are administered eye drops or nasal drops. It is important to remember that vaccinations will not help cure an animal that is already sick, cure sickness or prevent your pet from being infected by the disease inducing organism. A serious illness can only be prevented if the vaccination is given well ahead of time so that the body is able to prepare a defense against the organism. Pets can only receive vaccinations after they have attained a certain age as otherwise their immune systems may not have developed full to help them combat disease. Most experts believe that pets can be vaccinated after they have completed six to nine weeks. However, the exception to this rule include pets in animal shelters, breeding centers and rescue faculties who may be protected better if vaccinated early. Occasionally vaccines are known to fail or the immune system may find it difficult to respond to certain kinds of vaccines. This can prove fatal as the animal will not be ready to face the disease when it occurs in future.

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