Vaccinations: Keeping Your Pet Safe

Pet Vaccinations Play a Critical Role in the Health of Your Animals

How safe is your pet? He may have a sturdy fenced yard, plenty of shade in the summer, and an ID tag in case he gets lost -- but without the necessary pet vaccinations, he could still fall prey to deadly diseases. Here at New Hope Animal Hospital, we want to prevent that outcome. For this reason we urge all pet owners to schedule the necessary and appropriate vaccinations as part of a sound preventative wellness strategy.

You would think that animals would be born with some sort of strong natural immunity against the many potential threats to their lives and health. And in a way, they are -- except that the immunity they enjoy at birth does not come from their own bodies. The mother conveys her own antibodies to her babies; this provides several weeks of important protection, but eventually it wears off. At that point, our Durham veterinarian must come to the rescue by providing vaccinations. The vaccines stimulate the pet's body to produce its own natural defenses against particular contagions, at least for the life of the vaccine.

Core vaccinations -- those that protect against particularly common and deadly threats -- can mean the difference between life and death, and not just for baby animals. Your dog needs ongoing protection against parvo, parainfluenza, hepatitis and rabies. Your cat needs a rabies shot as well, in addition to core vaccinations against feline distemper, calicivirus and feline viral rhinotracheitis. Owners should be aware that a single round of core vaccinations is just the beginning. Vaccines lose their protective ability over time, so we have to schedule updates to keep your pet safe against these diseases. We will advise you on the proper booster-shot schedule for your pet.

Available from Our Durham Veterinarian

Keep your pet as safe as possible for many happy years to come. Contact our Durham veterinarian today to schedule those all-important vaccinations!

Have you ever known or seen an animal with rabies? Describe the experience to our readers!