Our team at Avalon Animal Clinic in Indianapolis knows that when you adopt a new pet and bring it into your home, you are in for lots of affection, silliness, and fun. Your pet will get to know you and your family, accepting each other’s quirks as you teach and learn from each other. Besides love and basic care, you will want to consult with a veterinarian to set your pet up for a healthy future. Ask our veterinarians about which vaccines are right for your pet. We have put together a few of the common questions that we run into regarding pet vaccinations.
Q: Why does my pet need vaccines?
A: As pet owners, we know that unforeseen illnesses and accidents come up in our pets’ lives. Certain diseases, however, can be passed to our pets through encounters with wildlife or germs they may come across while outdoors. These diseases can be life-threatening, extremely painful, and difficult to treat. Fortunately, many of them are avoidable with simple preventative vaccinations that your pet can receive from a veterinarian.
Q: How do vaccines work?
A: One of our veterinarians injects a shot into your pet that contains a small, safe portion of the disease so that your pet’s immune system can identify it as harmful and start building a defense against it. If your pet comes across the germ in their lives, its body is naturally prepared to fight it off and it is more likely to not contract the disease.
Q: Which vaccines are recommended?
A: For cats and dogs, several vaccines come highly recommended as the best defense against diseases they might come across. Some of these vaccinations vary by what is prevalent in the pet’s particular location. Dogs should be vaccinated for leptospirosis, parvovirus, rabies, and distemper. Cats should be vaccinated for feline leukemia, rabies, distemper, and rhinotracheitis.
Q: Why do some vaccinations require multiple shots?
A: Some vaccines need two stages of introducing the disease to the immune system for it to build up optimal recognition of and defense against the germ.
Q: What if my pet feels sick after being inoculated?
A: Adverse reactions to getting the shots are rare, but they do sometimes occur. Even so, it is much more likely that the vaccines will protect your pets from diseases than give them a bad reaction. Very mild soreness in and around the area the shot was given may happen and will go away quickly. Some shots make pets feel temporarily tired. Extreme reactions like shock are very rare. If your pet behaves differently after getting vaccinated, bring it back to our veterinarians for an examination.
Get Your Pet Vaccinated in Indianapolis, IN
Vaccinations keep pets and people safe from dangerous and possibly life-threatening diseases. Call our team at Avalon Animal Clinic today at (317) 842-4618 to schedule an appointment for your pet’s vaccinations with Dr. Kaiser or Dr. Kiley.