In addition to a healthy diet and plenty of exercises, the key to your dog or cat’s preventative care is protecting them from contagious disease with a mindfully chosen selection of vaccinations. Vaccinations work by exposing your pet to very small amounts of a virus. This allows your pet’s immune system to develop defenses against these dangerous diseases, so they can stay healthy when they encounter these viruses later on in life. Pet vaccines will prevent your pet from enduring the suffering and discomfort of disease, safeguard his or her life, and save your bank account from the sometimes costly expense of treating disease. Our veterinarian in Lincoln, NE can help you make well-informed choices regarding which vaccinations your pets receive and which they do not.
Understanding Which Pet Vaccines Are Right for Your Dog or Cat
Both canine and feline pet vaccines fall into two categories: core and non-core vaccinations. Core vaccinations protect pets against extremely common and highly life-threatening illnesses. Non-core vaccinations guard pets against diseases which they might not encounter unless they frequent places where they will encounter other animals such as boarding, grooming, and in the outdoors. The following are common vaccinations which fall within each category. These might vary depending on where you live or if you travel with your pet to different climates.
Core Canine Vaccinations – Canine distemper, canine hepatitis, rabies, and parvovirus
Non-Core Canine Vaccinations – Infectious bronchitis, bacterial blood infections (bordetella and Leptospira), and Lyme disease
Core Feline Vaccinations – Rabies, feline herpes virus, feline panleukopenia (distemper), and calicivirus (respiratory infection)
Non-Core Feline Vaccinations – Feline leukemia virus, ringworm, and feline chlamydophila
These lists include just a few examples of core and non-core vaccines available for cats and dogs. Our veterinarian will discuss your pet’s medical history, whether he or she is indoors or outdoors, and what activities they enjoy with you to determine which vaccinations will give your pet the best chance of staying healthy and living a long, happy life.
Lincoln Pet Vaccinations and Your Pet’s Preventative Care Exam
We recommend adult pets visit our veterinarian at least once per year for a physical examination and to ensure their pet vaccinations are up to date. Puppies, kittens, and senior pets often require more frequent care to ensure their Lincoln pet vaccinations are administered on schedule and any developing medical conditions are detected early. To schedule your pet’s annual wellness exam contact our office at (402) 488-0993. We look forward to caring all of your pets, keeping them healthy and happy for life. We look forward to meeting with you!