The purpose of vaccinations is to prevent the onset of various diseases. There are a lot of vaccinations out there that are available for dogs and cats. Quite frankly, not all of them are necessary. Not all of them are even effective.
When is it appropriate to vaccinate your pet and when does it make sense to stop vaccinating?
All puppies and kittens should be vaccinated, and there are very specific protocols on how to do that (your veterinarian can guide you through these). Once animals are adults, basically their vaccine schedule is very dependent on what their lifestyle is. And the older they get, the less they need to be vaccinated.
My personal philosophy when it comes to vaccinations is you vaccinate dogs and cats for the kinds of diseases that will kill them if they get it. So, for example, things like distemper, parvo, rabies, feline leukemia…
Also, consider their lifestyle. A cat that is strictly indoors or a dog that walks around the block on the sidewalk and spends the rest of the day on the couch has a very low disease exposure risk and is less likely to be considered for vaccination.
Rabies vaccinations are pretty much non-negotiable due to the fact that they are legally required. It’s legally required in dogs and, depending on where you live, it may or may not be legally required in cats.
Keep these variables in mind when making vaccine decisions for your pet:
- Lifestyle
- Age
- Overall health
- Potential reactions to vaccines
As a pet owner, take a proactive stance and ask questions about vaccines. A good veterinarian will not mind you asking those kinds of questions. And, if you get grief from asking those questions, you should look elsewhere for a veterinarian.
