Vaccinations

Vaccinations

One of the best ways to protect your pet against infectious diseases is through vaccinations. If you’re not sure what kind of vaccinations your pet needs, these FAQs from Westgate Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge can help. Learning more about vaccines will enable you to make wise decisions concerning the care of your pet.

What are vaccines?

Vaccines are health products designed to protect pets from contagious diseases. Vaccines trigger your pet’s immune system to fight against infections that can compromise its health. Some vaccines reduce the severity of a disease’s symptoms, while others prevent your pet from contracting the disease altogether.

Importance of Vaccines

Vaccines protect your pet from contagious diseases and help prevent their spread. Some diseases, like rabies, have no cure. Vaccinating your pet against these deadly diseases can extend their lifespan. It also protects you and your family from contracting a disease from your pet.

What vaccines does my pet need?

Pet vaccines can be divided into two categories: core and non-core. Core vaccines are those that are essential to your pet’s health. For dogs, core vaccines include bordetella, rabies, distemper, canine hepatitis, and parvovirus. For cats, core vaccines are rabies, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, and feline panleukopenia. Noncore vaccines, including leptospirosis and Lyme disease, can be given at our vet’s discretion according to your pet’s lifestyle.

Lifestyle and Vaccines

That being said, no pet is completely safe from exposure to these diseases. Even if your pet is completely indoors, pet owners are also able to transfer bacteria and viruses from different environments and animals into our home. This is why we recommend core vaccinations for all pets, regardless of their lifestyle. Indoor pets will have less exposure to diseases than pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Your geographic location will also affect your pet’s risk of contracting an infectious disease as some diseases are more prevalent in certain areas than in others.

We recommend core vaccinations for all pets, regardless of their lifestyle. Core vaccines protect your pet against diseases that can lead to death. They also protect people from getting these diseases from their pets.

How often should my pet be vaccinated?

Our vet will customize a vaccination schedule for your pet. We’ll conduct a pet exam and review your pet’s medical history to get a better idea of his state of health. We'll also consider your pet's age, breed, and lifestyle when creating a vaccination schedule to meet his protection needs.  

Schedule an Appointment with Our Veterinarian for Pet Vaccination Services in Maple Ridge

Call Westgate Animal Hospital today at (604) 465-3676 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our veterinarian.


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