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Pet Vaccinations 101

An Overview For Pet Owners As a pet owner, you hear a lot about vaccinations and how your four-legged friend has to have them. But what are pet vaccinations? And what vaccinations should your pet have?

Protecting Pets From Viruses  Simply put, vaccinations are shots given to protect your pet against a particular disease. During a vaccination, a specific virus (or virus particles) is injected into your pet’s bloodstream, which triggers an immune response within your pet’s body to protect her against that specific virus. Vaccinations For Young Pets Veterinarians usually recommend giving puppies and kittens a series of vaccinations starting when they are approximately six weeks old. Young animals need to be vaccinated early on since the natural immunity in their mothers’ milk gradually wears off and they become vulnerable to infectious diseases. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), a series of vaccinations are usually scheduled approximately three to four weeks apart, with the final vaccination series being administered when they are 12 to 16 weeks old. The Importance of Annual Shots Annual booster shots will also be necessary to keep vaccine levels high enough in your pet to protect her over time. Fortunately, pet owners appear to be keeping up with their pets’ shots; the 2007 AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook reports that 64.4% of dog owners and 63.7% of cat owners received vaccination services or products during their most recent veterinary visit. It’s important to remember that not all vaccines are 100% effective; a vaccinated pet may not develop adequate immunity and can become ill. However, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. Core vs. Non-Core Vaccinations Vaccinations for both cats and dogs can be categorized into two groups: core and non-core. Core vaccines are recommended for cats and dogs with an unknown vaccination history. Non-core vaccines are optional vaccines that should be considered depending on your animal’s risk. Core vaccinations for puppies and dogs include:  Parvovirus (CPV), Canine distemper virus (CDV), Canine adenovirus (CAV), and Rabies. Non-core vaccines include:  Canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV), Distemper-measles combination vaccine, Bordetella bronchiseptica (Kennel Cough), Leptospira spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme). Core vaccines for kittens and cats include: Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1), Feline calicivirus (FCV), Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and Rabies. Non-core vaccines include vaccines for: Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), Feline immunodeficiency virus, Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), Chlamydophila felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and Giardia spp. Know The Facts It’s important to remember that not all vaccines are 100% effective; a vaccinated pet may not develop adequate immunity and can become ill. However, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. When vaccinated, pets are protected against life-threatening diseases. The list of vaccinations available can be overwhelming and costly, but the good news is there are resources available to consumers, such as Veterinary Pet Insurance’s (VPI) optional Pet WellCare Protection coverage, that reimburses policyholders for important pet wellness services, including vaccinations, without a deductible. Return to the VPI Pet HealthZone >>

Suggested Reading Vaccinations for Your Dog and Cat Infectious diseases can cause serious illnesses, permanent tissue/organ damage, or even death. A Healthy Pet Is A Happy Pet Resolve to keep your pet healthy year-round. Bonnie's Story After some rainy weather, Bonnie decided to relieve her cabin fever by wandering off for three hours. When she got back, she was shaking and her eyes had turned blue. On the way to the vet she began going into seizures. Read More >>