Your pet’s vaccinations are immensely important for their health—and that of your family—because they can prevent the undue suffering that common infectious, and often deadly, diseases cause. When your pet is vaccinated for zoonotic (i.e., transmitted from animals to humans) diseases, you and your family are protected. Our Creature Comforts Veterinary Service team believes that vaccination against potential disease is one of the most important aspects of your pet’s preventive care. Many infectious diseases are highly contagious, so learn how vaccination protects your pet from these serious illnesses. 

Core vaccinations for pets

Core vaccinations are vaccines that all pets receive to protect them from prevalent, life-threatening infectious diseases. Vaccines are categorized as core based on factors such disease severity and transmissibility to humans.

Elective vaccinations for pets

In addition to your pet’s core vaccinations, your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccines based on your furry friend’s unique risks, health history, and lifestyle. For help determining which elective vaccines may benefit your dog, use the American Animal Hospital Association’s lifestyle-based vaccine calculator. If you have a cat, reference this table. Always discuss your pet’s specific elective vaccination needs with your veterinarian.  

Vaccinations for dogs

All dogs are at risk for contracting some infectious diseases no matter your lifestyle or where you live, and core vaccinations are necessary to protect their health. Your dog’s core vaccinations are essential, and prevent them from contracting these common infectious diseases:

  • Rabies — A disease that can infect animals and humans, rabies has an almost 100% fatality rate. Because no rabies cure exists, the vaccine is necessary to protect your pet’s health and your own, and most state laws require the rabies vaccine. Rabies is transmitted primarily through bite wounds, and the disease attacks the brain and spinal cord.  
  • Canine distemper — This highly contagious viral disease can affect your dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, ophthalmic, and nervous systems. This disease can be spread through respiratory secretions (e.g., coughing and sneezing), and contact with an infected animal’s urine or feces. While the disease is often fatal, some mild cases may resolve with veterinary care. However, dogs who survive will likely experience lifelong neurological issues.
  • Parvovirus — Unvaccinated dogs and puppies have the highest risk of contracting this virus that attacks the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and white blood cells. Parvovirus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal, their bodily fluids, or infected objects or soil. This infectious disease causes severe bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and often death.
  • Canine hepatitis — Adenovirus causes canine hepatitis, which attacks the blood vessel lining, liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs. This viral infection spreads through contact with an infected dog’s feces, urine, or saliva, and often leads to acute or chronic liver inflammation. Puppies who contract canine hepatitis often die.

Although all dogs should have core vaccinations, your veterinarian recommends some vaccinations—elective vaccinations—on the basis of your dog’s health status and lifestyle. Elective canine vaccines include:

  • Lyme disease
  • Leptospirosis
  • Bordetella (i.e., kennel cough)
  • Canine influenza

Vaccinations for cats

All cats are at risk for contracting some infectious diseases no matter your lifestyle or where you live, and core vaccinations are necessary to protect their health. Although you may have an indoor cat, veterinarians recommend they receive core vaccinations, because your family can track in an infectious disease on their shoes or clothing, another household pet can carry in a contagion, or your cat may inadvertently slip through an open door, and come in contact with an infected animal, or their feces or urine. Core vaccines for cats include the following:

  • Rabies — Like dogs and people, cats can contract rabies. Outdoor, unvaccinated cats are especially vulnerable to rabies because they interact with wildlife.
  • Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) — This highly contagious viral infection is spread through contact with an infected cat’s saliva, mucous, or other secretions, and can cause serious upper respiratory infections, and conjunctivitis. FHV-1 is fatal to most kittens, and cats who have compromised immune systems.  
  • Feline calicivirus (FCV) — Feline calicivirus is a common respiratory infection that can spread through contact with an infected cat’s respiratory secretions—such as saliva, mucus, or blood—causing oral inflammation and lesions. Some FCV strains can cause lameness or pneumonia. After recovery, cats infected with calicivirus can become carriers, and continue to infect other cats.
  • Feline panleukopenia (FPV) — Parvovirus causes FPV, viral infection that spreads through contact with an infected cat’s feces or saliva, or with contaminated objects, food, or water. Young kittens, cats with compromised immune systems, and unvaccinated cats are most susceptible to infection, which can be fatal without an early diagnosis and supportive care.
  • Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) — FeLV spreads through an exchange of bodily fluids—most often through a bite. An infected mother can pass FeLV to her kittens. The disease suppresses the immune system, and can cause anemia, lymphoma, and other deadly infections. Most infected felines die within three years of diagnosis.

Although all cats should have core vaccinations, your veterinarian recommends some vaccinations—elective vaccinations—on the basis of your cat’s health status and lifestyle. Elective feline vaccines include:

  • Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
  • Chlamydia felis
  • Feline bordetella 

Vaccinations are the most effective method for protecting your pet against infectious disease, and you should ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date. Protect your pet’s health by contacting our Creature Comforts Veterinary Service team to schedule your pet’s next appointment.