Common Pet Vaccinations Explained

Why Vaccinating Your Pets is Important

Prevent Serious Disease

We understand the power of pet immunization in warding off life-threatening illnesses that can affect our furry family members. By keeping up with your pet’s vaccination schedule, you’re arming them against dangerous diseases like rabies—a deadly virus with no cure once symptoms appear.

Providing preventive healthcare for pets through regular shots is a key part of responsible pet care, significantly diminishing the chances of severe infections. Vaccines prepare their immune systems to quickly respond to pathogens, preventing outbreaks of contagious diseases among other animals too.

Common Vaccinations

DOGS

DA2PP protects against four different diseases: distemper, adenovirus (type 2), parvovirus, often known as parvo, and parainfluenza. Distemper, adenovirus and parainfluenza all cause upper respiratory illnesses, whereas parvo (most often seen in puppies) attacks the intestinal tract.

• Symptoms of distemper: upper respiratory illness, vomiting, dehydration, seizures, tremors, weight loss and often death
•          Symptoms of adenovirus: upper respiratory infection or liver infection
•           Symptoms of parvo: severe diarrhea, vomiting and often fatal
•          Symptoms of parainfluenza: congestion, coughing and, in some cases, death if left untreated

Bordetella is a bacterium that causes the disease that we know as kennel cough. It is a highly contagious respiratory infection that, if left untreated, could lead to a more serious infection.

•         Symptoms: runny nose, coughing, sneezing, retching (heaving) and sometimes vomit or fever

CATS

FVRCP protects against three different diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), calicivirus and panleukopenia. FVR, also known as feline herpes, is an upper respiratory that also causes chronic eye and nasal problems. Calicivirus is another respiratory illness, and panleukopenia is like parvo in dogs.

• Symptoms of FVR: upper respiratory illness and eye and nasal problems
• Symptoms of calicivirus: mouth ulcers and can lead to pneumonia
• Symptoms on panleukemia: severe diarrhea, dehydration, loss of bone marrow and white blood cells and often fatal if not caught early and treated 

DOGS & CATS

Rabies is a life-threatening disease transmitted through animal bites and should not be taken lightly. The virus travels through the bloodstream, all the way to the nervous system and attacks the brain, which causes inflammation in brain tissue and the spinal cord. It is contagious to all animals and humans and fatal within only a few days. There is no treatment for rabies, and it is the only disease that is 100% fatal, but 100% preventable with vaccination.

• Symptoms: Pica (eating substances with no nutritional value like ice, hair, soil or paper), fever, seizures, paralysis, salivation, change in bark, lack of coordination and changes in attitude/behavior

To learn more about vaccinations, including a list of all recommended vaccinations please visit the ASPCA website.