Every pet needs a strong immune system to help them fight infection, and vaccines give dogs and cats the necessary protection to do just that. All puppies and kittens start out with antibodies they obtained while nursing, but these antibodies decrease after they’ve been weaned. At Valencia Animal Clinic, we recommend vaccinating pets as early as 6-8 weeks depending on their health, so they can start building up their immune system and be more resistant to illness going forward. Cat and dog vaccinations improve the health of our pets, but they also protect the health of our fellow humans here in Belen, NM.
Contact us today at (505) 864-4075 to schedule your pet’s vaccinations and keep their immunity strong.
Are Cat and Dog Vaccines Really Safe?
Our vaccines are very safe for pets. They carry minimal risk and can be spaced out to give your pet time to absorb the vaccine and increase their disease immunity gradually. We know that some pets can be prone to vaccine reactions, and we want to minimize this whenever possible. If your dog or cat develops symptoms after being vaccinated, such as lethargy, discomfort, or swelling at the injection site, call us right away.
To further ensure your pet’s safety when vaccinating them, we only give them the vaccines they actually need for their protection. Not all of the vaccines we carry are necessary for every pet; some we only give based on lifestyle and risk of exposure.
Core and Lifestyle-Based Vaccines
Core vaccines are those vaccines which we recommend for virtually all dogs and cats. These vaccines include:
- Rabies (required by law)
- DHPP (combo vaccine for dogs)
- FVRCP (combo vaccine for cats)
Our lifestyle-based vaccines are only essential for certain pets. For example, if your dog sees a groomer once a month or boards every spring break, they will require the kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccine. Kennel cough is an upper respiratory illness that can spread quickly among dogs living in close quarters.
Does Your Pet have a Customized Vaccine Schedule?
We administer cat and dog vaccinations based on each individual pet’s needs. If you’re not sure whether your pet is due or if they need an additional vaccine in their schedule, contact us at (505) 864-4075 to make an appointment.