Vaccinations for Your Pet
General Information
What are vaccinations?
Vaccinations are shots given to your pets that will protect them from getting diseases. Many of the vaccinations require one or more booster vaccinations, which are shots that renew the effectiveness of the original vaccine. It is very important to get the vaccinations and booster shots on schedule to keep your pet healthy. The information below describes what type of vaccinations pet needs and when he or she will need them.
Which pet animals require vaccinations?
· Dogs (including wolf hybrids)
· Cats (including exotic cats)
· Ferrets
· Monkeys
· Miniature Pigs
· Skunks
· Raccoons
· Pygmy Goats
Other farm animals kept as pets (horses, alpacas, etc.) will also need regular vaccinations. Please contact a large animal veterinarian to arrange for the care of these animals.
Can my pet have reactions to vaccines?
Adverse vaccine reactions occur in only a small percentage of vaccinated pets.
Common Reactions
· Low-grade fever
· Lethargy
· Lack of appetite
Most of the time the reaction begins four to 12 hours after the vaccination is given and subsides within 24 - 72 hours. If your pet is exhibiting signs for more than three days, it is important that you contact our hospital.
Site Reactions
Another common reaction is the appearance of a bump or swelling at the injection site. Most of the time these swellings are due to local immune reaction and are not a medical concern. In rare cases, an infection may occur at the vaccination site, causing a small abscess to form. If you notice a vaccination site reaction, please bring it to the attention of our veterinarians so that we can examine the area.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to vaccinations are uncommon but can occur. Pets experiencing an allergic reaction may have a swollen face or swollen eyes. Hives are also a sign of allergic vaccine reaction. In the most extreme cases, breathing difficulty can result. If your pet exhibits any of these signs, please contact us immediately. If a vaccine reaction occurs, we will treat the reaction and try to determine which vaccine was responsible and discuss options for future vaccinations.
Sarcomas/Tumors (Cats only)
Injection-related sarcomas occur in approximately one per 10,000 cats. A sarcoma is a tumor that occurs at the site of vaccination or other injection, usually months to years after the vaccine is administered. While the risk of this occurring in your cat is extremely low (much lower than the risk of your cat contracting a disease if unvaccinated), this tumor type is very difficult to treat. If you would like further information on this tumor, our doctors will be happy to discuss this with you.
Vaccinations for Your Cat
When should my kitten be vaccinated?
To keep your kitten healthy, Clermont Animal Hospital recommends that the first temporary vaccination be given when your kitten is 5 - 6 weeks old. This vaccine is repeated at 8 weeks, and then booster vaccinations are given every three to four weeks until your kitten is 4 months old.
Most breeders or rescue organizations give at least one set of vaccinations while the kitten is in their care. For this reason, it is important to bring any records you received with your kitten so that we can give your kitten the vaccinations at the appropriate time. A typical vaccination protocol is provided below to give you a general guideline of the ages that your kitten will need vaccinations:
6 weeks FVRCP (usually given by the breeder/rescue group)
8 weeks FVRCP
12 weeks FVRCP, Feline Leukemia (FIV and FIP optional)
16 weeks FVRCP, Feline Leukemia, Rabies (FIV and FIP optional)
20 weeks (FIV optional)
Annual booster Vaccinations
When should my adult cat be vaccinated?
Adult cats need booster vaccines every year. If your cat has never been vaccinated before, the first vaccines (except Rabies) will need to be boostered 3-4 weeks after the initial shot.
The first rabies vaccination is good for one year. After that, our hospital uses a three-year rabies vaccination for all cats. It is important to note that the rabies vaccine must be given by a licensed veterinarian. Most likely, any new cats will need this vaccination right away, unless you have proof that it was given while in the care of a former owner.
Be sure to bring any prior vaccination records to your first visit so that we can enter your cat’s vaccination dates into our computer. Once we have a record of your pet’s prior vaccinations in our computer system, we will automatically send you reminder cards or emails when vaccinations are due. Please be sure to notify us of any address or email changes so that you can be assured of receiving these reminders.
What diseases do cat vaccinations prevent?
Below you will find a discussion of recommended vaccinations, the diseases they prevent, and the ages at which they should be given. You will also find information about which cats are at risk for these diseases. It is important to discuss your cat’s risk status with one of our veterinarians. We will help you develop a vaccination program that is tailored to the specific needs of your cat.
FVRCP: This vaccine will protect your cat against a combination of common infections. It is first given at 5 - 6 weeks and repeated at 8 weeks. It is then boostered every 3 - 4 weeks until your kitten is at least 16 weeks old. Booster vaccinations are then given yearly. The following diseases are prevented by the components of this vaccination:
· Distemper virus (panleukopenia) causes neurological problems, including interference with brain development in young kittens. It also causes a decrease in the production of white blood cells (the cells that fight infection).
· Rhinotracheitis virus causes recurrent respiratory tract infections as
