The Importance of Vaccinating Your Pet

Pet owners want their animals to live long, happy and healthy lives. Unfortunately, animals can get sick. Many diseases can affect our pets, and many are infectious, meaning that they can be easily transmitted between unprotected animals, putting large numbers of animals at risk. Others are zoonotic, meaning that they can be passed between pets and humans, potentially causing illness in your human family. The good news is that many of the most serious and deadly animal diseases can be prevented with vaccinations. 

Here are some of the reasons why vaccinating your pet should be a priority. 
 

Vaccinations are Safe and Effective

Pet vaccines work in the same way that ours do – they prepare your pet’s immune system to fight against harmful microorganisms. This is done by introducing a very small amount of the disease, which has been carefully altered so that it can’t cause your pet to become sick. In doing so, your pet’s immune system will produce antibodies to fight the disease. Not only this, but their body will remember the characteristics of the disease so that it can fight it automatically if your animal comes into contact with the real thing down the line. Many vaccinations are only effective for a specific timeframe before boosters are recommended. 

 

Pets Can’t Protect Themselves From Disease

One of the main reasons why vaccination is so important is because our animals can’t protect themselves. They don’t understand hygiene or caution. And some diseases are airborne meaning that your pet can’t avoid them anyway. However, by ensuring your pet is up to date with their vaccinations, you don’t need to worry so much about who and what they come into contact with, or about them spreading disease to other animals and people around them. 

Some Animal Diseases Spread To People

As we know, some animal diseases are zoonotic, meaning that they can be passed between animals and humans. There is a range of zoonotic diseases, with more being discovered every year. Rabies is the best example of a zoonotic disease, which passes from infected animals to humans and is nearly always fatal. Vaccinations are the best way to keep both animals and people alike safe from zoonotic disease.

Other Vaccination Benefits 

There is a variety of other reasons why you should prioritize vaccinating your pet.
 

• You can help to control the transmission of serious viral and bacterial diseases in your local area and the wider community.

• You will protect your pet from diseases for which there are no current effective treatments, such as rabies.

• You can reduce the risk of your pet developing chronic and serious health conditions as a result of other preventable diseases that they have contracted.

• Your pet won’t suffer unnecessary pain and other debilitating symptoms associated with the disease.

• You can avoid unnecessary trips to your veterinarian and potentially expensive veterinary bills for treatment of serious disease.

As pet owners, we are responsible for taking steps to protect the health and wellbeing of our animals. One of the best ways that we can do this is by ensuring that our animals receive all recommended vaccinations, including any boosters, at the schedule recommended by your veterinarian in Greenwood Village. 


For more advice on pet vaccinations, or to schedule an appointment with our veterinary team, call Greenwood Village Veterinary Clinic in Greenwood Village, CO at  (303) 771-6304 today.