Picture this, you are sitting in your room reading a book. Suddenly, you hear the sound of little pitter patters running towards you, perking you up almost immediately. Our pets just need to exist to give us that boost of serotonin but we also need to give them a fun healthy life in return. When dogs and cats are young, they’re protected by their mother’s milk. The effectiveness of this natural protection goes down as they grow which raises the need for vaccinations. You need to keep meticulous track of all the mandatory and recommended vaccinations for your pets before you bring them home. A reputed and trusted vet can help you with this based on the lifestyle your pet will have.
Pupgrades for your Pups
Vaccinations for pups start around 6-8 weeks and need to be planned on a fixed schedule for maximum effectiveness.
There are some mandatory vaccinations for pups and some recommended ones, a good vet will help you figure out what’s best for your pupper. Here’s a list of vaccinations you need to know about:
- Distemper: This vaccine protects against a viral disease that affects the respiratory and nervous system of dogs. The first shot is given around 7-9 weeks and the booster is given around 11-13 weeks.
- Canine Hepatitis: This disease causes vomiting, jaundice, stomach problems, and other respiratory problems. Commonly spread through direct contact with other dogs, it’s best to get this vaccine at 7-9 weeks, followed by a booster at 11-13 weeks.
- Canine Parvovirus: A highly contagious and resistant virus, the Parvovirus targets the gastrointestinal system in dogs. Vaccination is given first at 7-9 weeks then as a booster at 11-13 weeks.Â
- Leptospirosis: Spread through contaminated bodily fluids of rodents and other livestock, this disease causes muscle pain, loss of appetite, and kidney failure. Vaccination should be administered at 7-9 weeks with a booster shot at 11-13 weeks.
- Rabies: A serious and fatal disease, the rabies vaccine is mandatory in most countries due to its zoonotic(a disease easily spread from animal to people and vice versa) nature. Best treated between 13-17 weeks for pups.
- Kennel Cough: Gets its name from how it’s usually spread, this respiratory disease causes persistent dry cough in dogs. Vaccinate your pups at 6-8 weeks then yearly for rabies.
- Canine Coronavirus Vaccine: You heard that right, there are strains of the corona virus that cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs. Usually recommended based on exposure risk, it’s best to ask your vet if your pupper needs this vaccine.
Apart from vaccines above, keep a regular track of booster shots for your pup, your vet will be able to help you with this. This is to ensure a safe and healthy life for your superstar.
Safety Kit for Your Kittens:
Cats need to be vaccinated regularly and in proper intervals just like dogs. Your vet will be able to help keep your buddy safe and strong for a long time to come.
Here are the vaccinations to make note of:
- Cat Flu: Presents itself with symptoms like sneezing, nasal discharge, and runny eyes. It can be easily managed with a carefully planned vaccination of the FVRCP vaccine. It starts at 6-8 weeks and boosters go on till 14-16 weeks.
- Feline Panleukopenia: Also known as the feline distemper, it’s a resilient disease that damages the bone marrow, intestines, and other organs. Vaccination at 6-8 weeks and booster till the end of 16 weeks will protect your furry baby from the adverse effects of this disease.
- Feline Leukemia: This retrovirus affects your cat’s immune system and bone marrow that leads to further diseases later on. Vaccination starts as early as 8 weeks and is administered in periodical doses.
- Rabies: This disease just doesn’t affect pups but other mammals as well. So your little furry pal needs to be vaccinated against it. The first dose is given around 12-16 weeks followed by periodical booster shots that you should not miss.
- Tricat: The Tricat vaccine is the holy trinity of vaccination for cats. It protects them against Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Calicivirus, and Feline Herpesvirus-1. This is administered at around 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Followed by regular booster shots based on your cat’s lifestyle.
Keep in mind that while these vaccinations help protect our pawfect buddies, it’s not a one time activity. Stay in touch with your vet to keep track of all the necessary yearly vaccinations and booster shots. Also ensure that your pets get extra rest after vaccinations since their immune system needs time to recover.
You should also look after the overall well-being of your best friend. This includes cleanliness, nutrition, loads of playtime(and more!), and exposure to the outside world. Being social active helps provide a more enriching life for your pets and aids in their mental as well as physical well being.
Now that we have brought you up to speed with the vaccinations you will need, check out our previous blog about how to create a safe haven for your pets.
