By Jay Butan, DVM
Inoculating animals against disease is an important part of their care, helping to keep pets safe and healthy and paying off for both owner and animal in the long term. Most vaccines are considered either core, meaning that they should be given to all animals of a given species, or noncore, meaning that they are necessary only for animals with certain risk factors. I have specifically chosen to focus on dogs and cats for the purposes of this article.
Core vaccinations for dogs include shots for canine distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and rabies. All four vaccinations are highly effective and lead to few negative side effects. The parvovirus vaccine is recommended as early as five weeks of age for some dogs. The other core vaccines are usually included in a combination vaccine administered at 6, 9, or 12 weeks of age and as a periodic booster shot thereafter. Noncore dog inoculations include vaccines for measles, respiratory disease, parainfluenza, Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and other diseases. Noncore vaccinations should be provided on a case-by-case basis after consulting with a veterinarian.
Recommendations for cat vaccinations vary, but most experts have agreed upon a core regimen that includes shots for panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and rabies. Core vaccines are typically administered in combination to cats at ages ranging from 6 to 19 weeks and as booster shots for adults. Noncore cat vaccines include shots for Chlamydophila, Bordetella, feline infectious peritonitis, and feline leukemia. The feline leukemia vaccine is particularly important for outdoor cats. Like dog owners, cat owners should consult a veterinarian to learn about the proper vaccination schedules for their animals.
About the Author
Jay Butan, DVM, owns and operates Canal Animal Hospital in Lake Worth, Florida. For more than 20 years, he has offered pet care including immunization, wellness plans, surgery, internal medicine, microchipping, and dental care. Find more information about Dr. Butan and his practice online at CanalAnimalHospital.com.
Dr. Jay A Butan 