Vaccines are a common part of routine care for pets. Have you ever wondered about your pet’s safety and what is actually happening during the process of immunization? Vaccines contain killed or modified versions of a virus or bacteria that stimulate the immune system to protect the body from subsequent infection or disease. This is an inherently reactive process. Vaccines initiate the process of immunization and provide pets and people with potential life-saving protection.
Vaccinations have an excellent safety record. They have continuously improved in both safety and efficacy over the years. They are carefully developed and tested by producers. Vaccines are licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB). According to federal regulations, vaccines must be “pure, safe, potent, and efficacious, and not be worthless, contaminated, dangerous, or harmful.” One study, performed by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, reviewed over one million canine medical records and found that 13 vaccine related reactions were noted for every 10,000 doses given. This translates to about one-tenth of one percent. Reactions can be prevented in nearly all affected pets with antihistamine medication and observation. It is very important that vaccines are administered to healthy pets and according to label instructions. True severe allergic reactions are extremely rare.
Immunization prevents severe and fatal diseases in pets. Viruses such as parvo and distemper can cause severe gastrointestinal or neurological disease in dogs. Panleukopenia can have similarly devastating effects in cats. These diseases are often fatal. Immunization also provides protection from diseases that greatly affect the quality of life of pets including upper respiratory conditions, hepatitis, and feline aids and leukemia. Pets who are immunized also protect people from severe and fatal diseases. Animals can transfer rabies and leptospirosis to people. Leptospirosis can cause kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, and even death in people. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and causes inflammation in the brain. The disease is devastating and fatal in humans, regardless of the treatment.
Vaccinations are an essential component of human and animal health. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter in more detail.