Pet vaccination: All you need to know

If you are a pet owner, the questions that may frequently come to your mind are generally about why your pets do not survive long or why they die from normal colds, fever or vomition.

In most cases, it’s because your pet has not grown immunity to fight these off. Cold, fever and vomition can be a life-threatening viral disease commonly known as flu, because of which, millions of pets die all over the world every year.

So to protect them, you should vaccinate your pet as soon as possible. Vaccines are preventative rather than curative. They protect your pet from highly contagious diseases such as canine distemper, parvovirus infection and respiratory tract infections. It also protects against transmissible diseases such as rabies, which also pose a risk to humans.

An annual visit to the veterinarian and keeping your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date will help your beloved companion safe and healthy.

Below, you will find the answers to some frequently asked questions and some basic information regarding your pet’s vaccination needs.

What are vaccines?

Vaccines are health products that trigger protective immune responses in pets and prepare them to fight future infections from disease-causing agents.

Vaccines can lessen the severity of future diseases and certain vaccines can prevent infection altogether. Nowadays, a variety of vaccines are available for use by veterinarians.

Is it important to vaccinate?

Yes! Pets should be vaccinated to protect them from highly contagious and deadly diseases. Experts agree that the widespread use of vaccines within the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals.Even though some formerly common diseases have now become uncommon, vaccination is still highly recommended because these serious disease agents continue to be present in the environment.

Does vaccination ensure protection?

For most pets, vaccination is effective and will prevent future diseases. Occasionally, a vaccinated pet may not develop adequate immunity and, although rare, it is possible for these pets to become ill.

It is important to remember that even though breakdowns in protection do occur, most successfully vaccinated pets never show signs of disease, making vaccination an important part of their preventive health care.

Are there risks?

Serious adverse responses occur rarely. Contact the veterinarian immediately if your pet suffers from repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, whole body itching, difficulty in breathing, or swelling of the face or legs or collapses. These signs may indicate an allergic reaction to the vaccines. In very rare instances, death can unfortunately occur.

Keep in touch with your veterinarian about the latest information on vaccine safety, including rare adverse responses that may develop weeks or months after vaccination. Remember, while vaccination is not without risk, failure to vaccinate leaves your pet more vulnerable to fatal illnesses that are preventable.

Which vaccine should my pet receive?

This will vary. Not all pets should be vaccinated with all vaccines just because they are available. Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s lifestyle, access to other animals and travel to other geographic locations, since these factors affect your pet’s risk of exposure to disease. “Core” vaccines are recommended for most pets in a particular area. “Non-core” vaccines are reserved for pets with unique needs. Your veterinarian will consider your pet’s particulars, the diseases at hand, and the application of available vaccines to customise a vaccine recommendation for your pet.

M Rubaiyat Adnan Turjo has completed BSc in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and is currently a postgraduate student at the Microbiology and Parasitology Department at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University