Cat and Dog Vaccinations in Cooper City
The positive impact of vaccinations on the pet population is too significant to ignore. Thanks to cat and dog vaccinations, pets are healthier than ever and diseases cannot spread as easily. Humans also receive indirect protection, since some animal diseases can be passed on to people. At Embassy Lakes Animal Hospital, we’ll learn all about your pet and develop a custom vaccination schedule to strengthen their immunity and keep them safe.
Will My Pet Experience Any Side Effects from Their Vaccines?
Side effects from vaccines are rare, but not unheard of. Some dogs and cats may have soreness and a small amount of swelling around the injection site, or they might be lethargic for a few hours. These effects usually resolve themselves within a day or two. If, however, your pet is experiencing persistent effects that might be vaccine-related, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Dogs and Cats Only Get the Vaccines They Need
To further reduce the risk of vaccine-induced side effects in pets, we create customized vaccine schedules to guarantee that dogs and cats get only the vaccinations they truly need. Our hospital offers a variety of vaccines, but generally, pets will not need to be vaccinated against every disease.
When we see your pet for their wellness exam, we’ll discuss the health risks they’re most likely going to face. We then work with you to build a vaccination plan around those risks. There’s no need to vaccinate your pet for a disease they’re highly unlikely to come across.
Which Diseases Do Pets Need Protection Against?
Certain vaccines are required by law to protect dogs and cats against life-threatening diseases like rabies. Below are the diseases for which our animal hospital offers vaccinations to keep your pet healthy and safe.
Cases of rabies are not as common among dogs and cats as they used to be, thanks to greater awareness and responsibility on the part of pet parents. The rabies virus targets the nervous system and is almost always fatal. Wildlife carriers of this disease include raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes. If you or your pet sustain a bite from one of these animals, seek medical attention immediately.
Dogs are among the many animals affected by distemper, a virus with a 50% mortality rate among adult canines and an 80% mortality rate in puppies. It can be spread via direct contact or exposure to airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing, or barking. Distemper affects multiple organ systems and can be shed by infected animals for months on end.
Bordetella, or kennel cough, is an upper respiratory bacterial infection that can spread quickly among dogs. The infection, characterized by a dry, hacking cough, is generally not life-threatening and can be treated with antibiotics. Due to its contagious nature, vaccination for Bordetella is typically required for dogs that are boarding, in daycare, visiting the groomer, or going to the dog park.
Leptospirosis is another bacterial infection that affects dogs, but without timely treatment, it can be much more serious because it may affect the liver and kidneys. Leptospirosis can also infect humans, and the bacteria that cause the illness can be found in damp soil, ponds, puddles, and sometimes even grass. Infected wildlife shed the bacteria in their urine, and if your dog comes into direct contact with it, they can be at risk for infection.
Signs of infection from leptospirosis include fever, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Canine influenza, or “dog flu,” isn’t all that different from human flu. There are two main strains for which our dog flu vaccine offers protection, H3N2 and H3N8. Dog flu causes coughing, a runny nose and eyes, fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Vaccination for this virus is often required by boarding kennels, groomers, dog parks, and dog daycare facilities.
Will My Pet Experience Any Side Effects from Their Vaccines?
Side effects from vaccines are rare, but not unheard of. Some dogs and cats may have soreness and a small amount of swelling around the injection site, or they might be lethargic for a few hours. These effects usually resolve themselves within a day or two. If, however, your pet is experiencing persistent effects that might be vaccine-related, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Dogs and Cats Only Get the Vaccines They Need
To further reduce the risk of vaccine-induced side effects in pets, we create customized vaccine schedules to guarantee that dogs and cats get only the vaccinations they truly need. Our hospital offers a variety of vaccines, but generally, pets will not need to be vaccinated against every disease.
When you visit with your pet for their wellness exam, we’ll discuss the health risks they’re most likely going to face. We then work with you to build a vaccination plan around those risks. There’s no need to vaccinate your pet for a disease they’re highly unlikely to come across.
Which Diseases are the Most Dangerous for Pets?
Some vaccines are required by law, due to the danger of certain diseases. These include:
Cases of rabies are not as common among dogs and cats as they used to be, thanks to greater awareness and responsibility on the part of pet parents. The rabies virus targets the nervous system, and is almost always fatal. Wildlife carriers of this disease include raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes. If you or your pet sustain a bite from one of these animals, seek medical attention immediately.
Dogs are among the many varieties of animals affected by distemper, a virus with a 50% mortality rate among adult canines and an 80% mortality rate in puppies. It can be spread via direct contact or exposure to airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing, or barking. Distemper affects multiple organ systems and can be shed by infected animals for months on end.
For more information about vaccines and how to best protect your pet,
call us today at (954) 432-5811.