Keep your four-legged friends happy and healthy with lots of love and attention, exercise, nutritious food, plenty of water, and vaccinations. Pet vaccinations are among the best things you can do for your furry family members’ health, as they protect against serious and deadly diseases. Schedule vaccinations as soon as your kitten or puppy is old enough, as well as yearly booster shots.

Review five necessary vaccinations you should never skip:

Rabies

The rabies vaccine is necessary for both dogs and cats, as it is a fatal disease that attacks the central nervous system and brain. Rabies is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal. Get your cat or dog vaccinated for rabies when the pet is four months old.

Distemper

Distemper is another pet vaccination essential to cat and dog health. It protects against distemper and other potentially-fatal diseases, such as the canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia. Parvovirus is a gastrointestinal disease and deadly if left untreated, with panleukopenia in the same virus family. Schedule distemper vaccines when your pet is at least six weeks old.

Feline Leukemia

Cats must be vaccinated against this type of leukemia, the leading cause of death among household felines. It affects the immune system and can cause cancer, such as lymphoma and fibrosarcomas. Get your kitten vaccinated against feline leukemia when the animal reaches 16 weeks of age.

Canine Bordetella

Canine bordetella, or a kennel cough, is a serious respiratory infection that can cause pneumonia. The infection is transmitted through the air and can easily affect your dog if the animal is placed in a kennel. The bordetella vaccine is generally administered as two separate shots when the puppy is six weeks old and then as annual boosters.

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis

Vaccinating against this contagious respiratory infection is strongly recommended because your cat is a carrier for life once infected. Eye inflammation, sneezing, loss of appetite, and fever are the main symptoms that emerge when the cat is stressed.

Discuss these and other essential pet vaccinations with the compassionate veterinarians at Middlefield Veterinary Clinic. The premier Middlefield, OH-based animal hospital provides a comprehensive range of pet care services to keep your furry family members healthy, including emergency care. Schedule pet vaccinations, or learn more about available services by contacting Middlefield Veterinary Clinic today. Call (440) 632-9181 or visit the website, and like the animal hospital on Facebook for more helpful tips.