The power of vaccinations in Oakleaf Plantation, FL: Protect your pet and our community

We know how important it is for our human family members to get the vaccines they need to stay healthy and keep others healthy. The same notion applies to our furry family members. Vaccinations are a fundamental part of a healthy relationship between your pet, the doctor, and the rest of the team here at Orange Park Animal Hospital at Oakleaf (in Oakleaf Plantation, FL). 

Vaccinations basics

Vaccines are health products developed to safely trigger immune responses, which in turn protect your pet’s health by bolstering its ability to fight disease-causing pathogens. The production of antibodies is also started. So, your dog or cat can best identify and fight off harmful “invaders.” Your pet is likely to experience less severe symptoms from future infections, or some vaccines actually provide immunity and prevent certain conditions and diseases altogether. You are also doing your part for the broader community by preventing the spread of highly contagious, potentially devastating diseases from animal to animal or animal to human. 

The shot schedule 

Since puppies and kittens do not have a fully developed immune system, a series of shots protect them from highly infectious diseases. The first dose “primes” your furbaby’s immune system against viruses or bacteria, while periodic boosters build up the antibodies that are needed for sustained immunity and protection. Vaccinations in those first few months of life are generally scheduled three to four weeks apart. Throughout a pet’s life, some vaccines will be administered every couple of years. Some must be administered more frequently. It just depends on the level of immunity and on the length of time your pet is protected with each vaccine dose. 

It is also necessary to remember that when and what vaccines are administered depends on many factors, including the kind of pet you have and their environmental risk factors. 

Core vaccines 

While every pet is unique, core vaccines refer to those generally recommended to most pets. The American Animal Hospital Association recommends:

• Rabies 
• DAPP (Distemper, Adenovirus-2, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) combination vaccine
• Feline panleukopenia (FPV)
• Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1)
• Feline calicivirus (FCV) 
• Feline leukemia (FeLV)

All pet owners are expected, by law, to have their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies. We will make recommendations that are suited precisely to your pet’s needs and characteristics, for instance, to protect your dog from leptospirosis bacteria or your cat from Chlamydophila Felis bacteria. 

Vaccines are not something you should sleep on. Schedule an appointment today. We have many wellness plans that are suited to every pet at every life stage and cover preventive services such as vaccinations.