Why Cat and Dog Vaccinations are Beneficial to Pets in and Around North Branford, CT
First and foremost, cat and dog vaccinations protect individual pets from a variety of diseases that can do them serious harm. But that’s not all--vaccinating your pet also reduces the spread of these diseases throughout North Branford, CT and surrounding areas. Both humans and their pets can enjoy a healthier, safer existence with the help of vaccines for dogs and cats. At Montowese Veterinary Clinic, we believe every pet should have their own tailored vaccine program to stay sufficiently protected, with minimal risk of being over-vaccinated. Contact us by calling or texting (203) 562-9896 to schedule an appointment.
What Kind of Diseases Does My Pet Need Protection Against?
Dogs and cats can both be vulnerable to viral infection if their immune systems have not been fortified with the necessary antibodies. Vaccines trigger the body’s immune system to produce disease-fighting antibodies, but these can fade over time.
To maintain your pet’s immunity and provide them with the most complete coverage, we offer vaccines for the following diseases on a carefully planned schedule:
- Rabies (dogs and cats)
- Parvo (dogs)
- Distemper (dogs)
- Lyme disease (dogs)
- Leptospirosis (dogs)
- Bordetella/kennel cough (dogs)
- Feline viral rhinotracheitis (cats)
- Calicivirus (cats)
- Panleukopenia (cats)
- Feline leukemia (cats)
Can Vaccines Cause Side Effects in Dogs and Cats?
Vaccine side effects are rare in pets, especially allergic reactions. The most that any pet might experience following their vaccinations includes mild discomfort and swelling at the injection site and drowsiness, which usually resolves within 24 hours.
If you do notice that your pet is showing signs of an allergic reaction, which often includes significant facial swelling, bring your pet back in to see us immediately so we can treat them. For their future safety, we may need to remove the vaccine responsible from their schedule.
Why Pets Should Have Their Vaccines Tailored to Their Needs
Tailoring your pet’s vaccines according to their own individual needs is key to reducing the risk of side effects. This means they will most likely not need every vaccine we offer at our clinic. Instead, we evaluate your pet, discuss their daily life, and, in short, get to know the world you share. With this information, we can determine which vaccines will be essential to their health, and which ones will not.
Some vaccines are required for all pets. This includes rabies, which is required by law, the canine combination distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and parainfluenza vaccine, and the combination feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia vaccine. These are core vaccines which protect against deadly illnesses. Any vaccines recommended outside of these are given based on lifestyle factors. Call or text us at (203) 562-9896 if you have any questions.