Don’t throw away your pet’s best shot at preventive care over fake news. Arm yourself with knowledge about vaccinations for your pet.
1. Are vaccinations necessary for my pet?
If you own a cat or dog, the answer is yes. Vaccinations prepare your pet’s immune system to fight against potentially fatal illnesses caused by harmful viruses/bacteria:
Reduce the risk of your pet contracting a potentially deadly illness.
Reduce the severity of symptoms if your pet does contract that disease
2. How do I know if my pet needs vaccinations?
You don’t have to. Give that job to your vet or our vets at Gaia. They are trained to assess all factors related to your pets and provide the right advice.
Factors they will consider include:
Age (Puppies/kittens’ vaccination requirements are a little different from their adult counterparts)
Lifestyle
Environment
Medical history (or vaccination history)
It’s helpful for you to keep a record of your pet’s medical/vaccination history and share that with your vet. For pet owners who have adopted strays, it is best to consult a vet.
Shelter pets would normally be checked or vaccinated before adoption. So you may get a copy of their vaccination history from the shelters.
For first-time pet owners, making sure your pet gets her shots is one of the boxes you need to tick off. Aside from this, check out this 101 guide on other things you should look out for.
3. What are core vaccines?
These are vaccines deemed by vets and the animal care industry as necessary to protect your pet. There are also non-core vaccines, required only if your pet is at higher risk of contracting the illness.
See the full list of core and non-core vaccines required for dogs here, and for cats here.
For instance, in rabies-free Singapore, the rabies vaccine is not necessary unless you are exporting or bringing your pet overseas. Yet, in the U.S. it is a core vaccine for pets.
Another example is Leptospirosis, a life-threatening bacterial infection. This is a non-core vaccine and dependent on your pet’s exposure. For instance, farm dogs exposed to water contaminated by the urine of infected animals e.g. rats, cattle, pigs, horses will need it. This is a scenario that’s rather unlikely in Singapore.
4. How often should my pet get vaccinated?
It differs from the type of disease your pet is vaccinated against. There is a established protocol/standard used by vets worldwide. Get a vaccination schedule from your vet or talk to us at Gaia to keep yourself updated.
5. Why are booster shots necessary?
Very few vaccines confer lifelong protection. Booster shots, which are like “a refresher course” for your pet’s immune system, help to ensure your pet stays protected. Consult your vet or talk to us if you wish to know the frequency of booster shots for your pet.
The best way to be certain and to avoid over-vaccination is to talk to your vet. She will be able tell based on your pet’s medical history, lifestyle, age amongst other factors. She may recommend a Titer Test, where blood is drawn from your pet to test for presence and amount of antibodies (signs of immunity against the disease).
6. Are there side effects from vaccination?
Like in humans, your pet may experience mild side effects minutes after the shot.
Discomfort and swelling at the injection site
Mild fever
Lack of appetite
Lethargy
Mild Diarrhoea
If any of the side effects above last for 2 days or more, or cause significant discomfort in your pet, contact your vet immediately.
The protective benefits of vaccinations often outweigh the risks/side effects. That's why veterinarians recommend them.
Serious and less common side effects or allergic reactions may happen minutes or hours after vaccination. Do not take them lightly as some may become medical emergencies. Send your pet to the vet immediately if any of these symptoms develop:
Persistent vomiting
Continuous diarrhoea
Bumpy, itchy skin
Swelling of the muzzle, around the face, neck, or eyes
Severe coughing
Breathing difficulties
Collapse
Vaccinations do come with some risks. For instance, vaccine-associated sarcoma is a rare complication which some cats get. The sarcoma is a tumour what develops at the site of injection.
7. Does this mean my pet is 100% protected from contracting the illness?
Vaccinations do not give a 100% protection. But inoculating your pet gives him a better chance to fight off potentially-fatal illnesses.
There are cases where vaccines don’t work. For instance, puppies or kittens which are nursed, can receive antibodies from their mothers’ milk. These antibodies, when present, will render the vaccine ineffective. So the age of the puppy receiving the vaccine matters. While booster shots are timed in such a way to protect them when maternal antibodies begin to wane.
8. Will my pet contract the disease from vaccination?
No. Vaccines contain antigens which are similar to the disease-causing organisms. But they do not actually cause your pet to contract the disease. Instead, vaccinations prepare your pet’s immune system to fight off harmful viruses/bacteria if they are exposed.
So there you have it, our top FAQs regarding the widely-controversial topic on vaccination. If you have any more burning questions or think we should include more answers here on vaccines, just email us at askgaiapets@gmail.com!
