Hello, everyone! August is National Immunization Awareness Month! Many of you understand that your pet needs vaccines, but do you understand which vaccines your dog or cat needs (and when) to be protected from dangerous diseases? Ensuring your pet(s) receive their vaccinations in a timely manner is the key to a long and healthy life. Regardless of whether you keep your pets inside or not, vaccines are essential in ensuring your pets health. Many contagious diseases are airborne, meaning your pet could contract it through an open window. Pets are also prone to slipping out of the house on occasion, which could expose them to potentially fatal diseases. Additionally, places you may frequently visit such as boarding kennels, dog parks, pet shops, and grooming salons are high-risk environments. Making sure your pet is vaccinated before visiting such places can give you peace of mind. Just remember that vaccinations can take a few days to a few weeks before becoming effective and may need to be given again several times for your pet to develop a strong and healthy immune system. While it may be very difficult to leave that cute puppy at home during your visits with friends and family, it may be the safest option for puppies that have not had all of their booster shots. Initial vaccines should be given to your puppies starting at six weeks of age, and every 3 weeks thereafter with the final dose administered at 20 weeks of age. For kittens, initial vaccines should be given starting at 8 weeks of age, and every 3 weeks thereafter with the final dose administered at 20 weeks of age.
“DA2LPP”: Commonly called the distemper shot, this vaccination protects against Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.
“Bordetella”: This is a vaccine that is given to dogs that are exposed to other dogs in boarding, grooming, or social settings. Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common bacterial agent responsible for kennel cough in dogs.
“Rabies”: Rabies virus is fatal and all mammals are susceptible to infections. In Georgia, dogs and cats are required by law to receive the rabies vaccination yearly (or every 3 years if receiving a 3 year vaccine).
“FVRCP/Leukemia”: This vaccination protects against Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia virus and Leukemia virus.
Always keep a copy of your vaccination records and schedule annual checkups to monitor your pet’s overall health and to stay up to date with any vaccinations necessary. If you have any questions or concerns about vaccinations, please give us a call at 706-629-5060 or email us at askbfah@gmail.com.
