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Pet Vaccinations You Should Know About

November 28, 2016 by Mary Telesz

Pet VaccinationsWhile vaccinations for pets — like those for humans — have become increasingly controversial, the truth is that certain vaccines are absolutely necessary for your dog or cat’s health and well-being. They may also be required for your pet to be boarded at a kennel or be taken care of by a pet sitter. So which vaccinations should your pet be receiving? It depends on a number of factors, such as where you live and how much time your pet spends outdoors. Here are a list of the pet vaccinations you should know about to keep your beloved pooch or feline as healthy as possible.

Rabies

When it comes to rabies, prevention is the only option. Rabies is usually fatal to dogs and cats who contract it, and it isn’t always possible to prevent a bite from an infected animal. Because rabies can easily be spread, it is a significant public health concern. For this reason, many states require both cats and dogs to be vaccinated against rabies. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine for pets.

For dogs, there are two options for the rabies vaccine: a one year dose and a three year dose. The one year dose can be administered to a puppy as young as three months, with a booster shot after one year. After that, your dog can move to a schedule of receiving a rabies shot every three years. Check with your veterinarian to determine how old your dog must be to get the three year dosage.

For cats, the first vaccine can be administered when they are 3 months old. After the initial vaccination, a booster shot should be given at one year. After that, your cat can get a vaccine every three years, just like dogs.

Distemper

There are two types of distemper: canine distemper and feline distemper. Both are extremely contagious viral diseases, related to the virus that causes measles. Distemper spreads through the air, and it can attack your pet’s body, causing a variety of symptoms such as runny nose, lack of appetite, vomiting, seizures and even paralysis. There is no cure for canine distemper, although some dogs do recover. Feline distemper is also known as panleukopenia, and it can be fatal to cats. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine, given the ease with which distemper can spread and the serious and potentially deadly nature of the disease.

For dogs, the distemper vaccine is given as part of a combination vaccine at 6, 9, 12 and 15 weeks. Your dog will receive an annual booster at one year old and every year after. Cats will receive the first vaccine as young as 6 weeks of age, and then get an additional shot every 3 or 4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old. They will then receive a yearly booster.

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines are those that are considered critical to your pet’s health. In some states, these vaccines may be required by law. In addition to rabies and distemper for both dogs and cats, there are several other core vaccines that your pet should receive.

Dogs should receive vaccinations against hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. These vaccines are administered in combination with distemper to young puppies in a shot known DHPP. Cats should receive a number of vaccines as well, including the FVRCP vaccine, which protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Distemper, also known as Panleukopenia) and the Feline Leukemia Virus (FELV) vaccine. These shots should be a part of every pet owners’ plan to protect their dog or cat’s health and well-being.

Optional Vaccines for Dogs

In addition to the core vaccines, your dog may also benefit from vaccinations that address specific concerns based on where you live and your dog’s exposure to certain environmental factors.

If you live in an area with lots of ticks and your dog spends time outdoors or in the woods, consider getting a vaccine for Lyme Disease for your dog. If ticks are not a concern, but you live in an area known for rattlesnakes, you should consider a rattlesnake vaccine. Anyone who boards their dogs may want (or be required) to get a bordetella vaccine for their dogs. Bordetella is also known as kennel cough and it can lead to severe respiratory symptoms, including coughing and even pneumonia. You should also talk to your veterinarian about the leptospirosis vaccine. This infection is spread through infected urine, and it can be fatal if it is present. Because infection rates of this virus have dropped, most vets only recommend getting this vaccine if there is a local outbreak.

Optional Vaccines for Cats

Every cat owner should make sure that their kitty gets the core vaccines to protect them from the most common and fatal types of infections. You may also want to consider additional vaccines for your cat, such as the feline immunodeficiency virus (the feline version of HIV), virulent calicivirus Vaccine (a rare disease that does not spread easily), feline chlamydia felis Vaccine (for cats who come into contact with other cats who may have this disease) and Feline bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine (for young cats living in large, multiple cat environments).

For More Information on Pet Vaccinations

Keeping your pet safe is one of your responsibilities as a pet owner. Talk to your veterinarian today to learn more about the best vaccines for your dog or cat. Contact Paw Pals Pet Sitting today.

Filed Under: Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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