The Importance of Vaccinating Dogs and Cats to Prevent Rabies and Other Diseases

Vaccinating dogs and cats is the most effective way to prevent rabies (iStock)

It is important to schedule the vaccinations of our companion animals according to their age and state of health, since these are the most effective and safe weapons to prevent diseases. Vaccination creates a defense barrier against infectious diseases, avoiding the risks that they produce and logically the sequelae and consequences of these natural infections.

At the same time, we are promoting the health of the entire community, through the protection that they provide, avoiding the circulation of pathogenic infectious agents. When a dog comes into contact with an infectious agent, such as the parvovirus virus or the fearsome distemper or distemper virus, without being vaccinated, it is most likely to develop the disease, with a high chance of dying.

On the other hand, if the individual has already been exposed to the virus, through the vaccine, they have already developed specific antibodies and will have the ideal and necessary tools to face the disease and defeat it. It is important to know when to apply vaccinations to keep our companion animals healthy.

A cat needs these vaccinations: Distemper (panleukopenia); Cat flu (rhinotracheitis: calicivirus or herpesvirus infection); Feline leukemia (leukosis); Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Rabies

In puppies, vaccination should begin between six and eight weeks of age and includes the so-called sextuple vaccine that covers protection against canine parvovirus, canine distemper, canine viral hepatitis, leptospirosis, canine parainfluenza, and canine coronavirus; To this vaccine we must add the bordetella vaccine (kennel cough) and the anti-rabies vaccine.

The puppy will receive a series of doses as a booster, memory or rappelling dose, at pre-set intervals until four months of age, at which time most authors ensure that there are no longer maternal antibodies that neutralize the action of the vaccines and the maturity of the immune system make it possible to ensure that the vaccines given at that age, having applied the previous boosters, will surely be valid for one year.

As for kittens, the vaccination schedule begins between eight and twelve weeks of age and includes the feline triple vaccine that provides immunity against feline viral panleukopenia, feline calcivirus, and feline viral rhinotracheitis; the feline viral leukemia vaccine and the rabies vaccine. The repetition schemes meet the same premises as in the dog, each animal having to receive at least two doses separated between 21 and 30 days, culminating at 4 months or more with the rabies vaccine.

Vaccines are the safest and most effective to prevent disease (Getty Images)

There is no single vaccination schedule, but there is a criterion about it, about each animal and its situation, then being the veterinarian, who determines the opportunity and the type of vaccine to apply. The variables will be the physiological stage, lifestyle, risk of exposure, breed and other factors of the animal that clearly influence its immune response.

It is essential that the animals are clinically healthy before receiving a vaccine and in the case of puppies, it is recommended that they have between seven to ten days of being in the house before the first vaccination, to adapt to their new environment, being ideal that are also free of parasites previously. Adult dogs and cats should be vaccinated annually throughout their lives, especially elderly animals.

It is important to record and certify the date of application, the name and signature of the veterinarian, the name of the vaccine, the batch, the expiration date and the manufacturer in order to have a complete clinical history, through a health record or a certificate. official, especially in the case of the anti-rabies vaccine. Vaccination as a branch of preventive medicine is one of the most effective and safe weapons to prevent diseases, since by applying a vaccine, the body is being prepared to fight future infections.

*Prof. Dr. Juan Enrique Romero @drromerook is a veterinarian. Specialist in University Education. Master in Psychoimmunoneuroendocrinology. Former Director of the Hospital Escuela de Animales Pequeños (UNLPam). University Professor at various Argentine universities. International speaker.

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