Vaccination
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Vaccinating your pet is considered one of the easiest ways to help them live a long, healthy life. There are many different viruses that your pet may need to be vaccinated for depending on their lifestyle and their geographic location. There are also several different types of vaccines for each individual virus.
Vaccines contain antigens (small molecules that look like a small piece of the virus). It is the antigen that stimulates the pet's immune system to prepare to fight off the virus, The body does this by producing antibodies specific for that virus. That way if your pet is exposed to the real virus in the environment, his or her body has the needed antibodies already and they do not get sick or at least have very minimal symptoms of disease. The benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks in the vast majority of pets. At the Animal Health Centre, our veterinarians will assess the risks and benefits for each individual patient. The doctors will then determine a specific vaccine program tailored to your pet's lifestyle, geographic area, and current health status. |
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Some vaccines for dogs include:
Your puppy vaccination series can start at 6 weeks of age.
Dogs older than 6 weeks old can start vaccinations anytime. Depending on your pets vaccine need, re-vaccination can be anywhere from every year to every three years. |
Some vaccines for cats include:
Your kitten vaccination series can start at 9 weeks of age.
Cats older than 9 weeks old can start vaccinations anytime. Depending on your pets vaccine need, re-vaccination can be anywhere from every two- three years. |
