For your pet to have a long, healthy life, it is important to ensure that they are protected from infectious diseases that can cause serious health issues or even death.
Vaccinations are an important part of pet ownership, and in this guide to pet vaccinations, we explore how they work, how often they’re required and what they protect your pet against.
To make sure your pet is fully protected from infections, both puppies and kittens will need three doses of vaccinations given routinely before they are four months old. The suggested age of each booster is as follows;
After they have received the full course of vaccines (all three boosters), they’ll need an annual vaccine shot for the remainder of their lives.
Puppies and kittens are protected from infections through the antibodies in their mother’s milk. However, once they are separated from their mother, they do require vaccines to ensure their immune systems are strong enough to protect them from diseases.
Vaccines are given to puppies and kittens at 4-6 week intervals to slowly build up their immune response. During this time, it may be tempting to take your puppy out to the local park, but we recommend not walking your puppy in public areas or in parks before they have had their full schedule of vaccinations. This will ensure they do not catch anything harmful while they are not fully protected from common diseases.
Vaccinations are one of the most common procedures that take place in veterinarian practices. Cat and dog vaccinations in Australia are split into two separate groups. These are core vaccines and non-core vaccines.
Core vaccines are given to protect your pet against severe or life-threatening diseases. Non-core vaccines are given based on the local environment and lifestyle that may put them at greater risk of contracting a disease. Your vet will advise you of whether your pet is in danger of catching a local virus.
Karingal Veterinary Clinic on the Mornington Peninsula
If you need more advice on vaccinations or general pet health, please speak to our friendly staff today. You can call Karingal Veterinary Clinic on the Mornington Peninsula or book online.