Vaccinating your pet is important to protect him or her from illnesses. Vaccines provide antibodies. They help your pet's immune system fight off infectious diseases that can damage your pet's health. When your cat or dog receives a vaccine, he or she gets a disease-causing organism. It stirs up his or her immune system and tells it how to respond to those illnesses in the future.
No vaccine is completely effective, but the right vaccinations can help your pet fight illness or recover much faster if he or she gets infected.
Is Pet Vaccination That Important?
Yes, vaccinating your pet is so vital that there are legal consequences for not getting him or her vaccinated. Here is why.
Pet Vaccines Stop Illnesses From Spreading to Other Animals
One of the main reasons to inoculate your pet is to shield them from catching illnesses that can spread from one animal to another. Many illnesses that vets inoculate against are very spreadable between pets and can be fatal to those vulnerable.
Some of the most common diseases your pet can be inoculated against include:
- Rabies – A deadly viral illness in animals that spreads through contact with the saliva of an infected animal. Rabid animals tend to be quite aggressive and can easily spread the virus to other animals.
- Bordetella – An extremely infectious respiratory illness in dogs and cats. It is caused by bacteria and causes swelling in the windpipe and airways.
- Distemper – A highly infectious viral illness of pets that does not have any cure. The virus affects the lungs, nose, airways, and eyes. It can also infect the brain and overpower a pet's immune system.
- Feline leukemia – The most common contagious illness in cats that suppresses a cat’s immune system. It can cause other deadly diseases. Feline leukemia is infectious among cats, spreading through contact with the nasal secretions or saliva of an infected cat.
- Lyme disease – An infection caused by bacteria and can spread through a bite from an infected tick.
- Parvovirus – An extremely infectious viral illness that can be fatal. Transmission of the illness happens when an animal ingests the feces of an infected animal. This is possible through ingesting the virus from the environment or from hunting an infected animal. Many animals that test positive for the virus will die.
- Leptospirosis – A contagious illness caused by bacteria that bring about severe illness in pets. The bacteria live in warm, wet soil or water. They transfer through the urine of a disease-ridden animal, which can penetrate the soil or water and survive for months.
Pet Vaccines Stop Diseases From Spreading to Humans
Certain pet illnesses such as rabies and leptospirosis can pass on to humans and cause severe illness. Thus, when your pet receives vaccines against these forms of diseases, you are not only protecting him or her — you are also protecting your family members.
To learn more about the importance of pet vaccinations, visit Mokena Animal Clinic at our office in Mokena, Illinois. You can also call 708-479-2811 to book an appointment today.
