Vaccinating Your Pet – FAQ’s

🐾 Protecting Our Pets: The Importance of Vaccination 🐾

Yearly vaccines save pets’ lives.  They are a simple, yet powerful tool that shield our pets from a range of preventable diseases.  They are designed to save pets from unnecessary suffering and us from needless worry and expensive vet bills.

Life can get busy, but like us, pets need regular preventive care for happy and healthy lives. Yearly vaccinations are crucial for shielding pets from illnesses, ensuring they stay happy by our side. 

🔬 The Science 🐶🐱:

A vaccine is a painless injection that introduces a weakened or inactive form of a disease into the body. This helps the immune system recognise and fight the real threat if encountered, serving as a proactive defence for our pets against potential illnesses. Vaccines are thoroughly tested to ensure safety and effectiveness. The risks of vaccination are minimal, compared to the potential consequences of leaving our pets unprotected.

What diseases do we vaccinate against?

Dogs

– Canine Parvovirus: A highly contagious virus causing severe gastrointestinal symptoms that, even with treatment, can be fatal for many puppies and dogs.

– Canine Distemper: A viral disease affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems that, even with treatment, can be fatal for many puppies and dogs.

– Infectious Canine Hepatitis: Caused by the canine adenovirus, it primarily affects the liver that, even with treatment, can be fatal for many puppies and dogs.

– Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection spread through contact with infected urine, leading to liver and kidney damage that, even with treatment, can be fatal for many puppies and dogs.

– Kennel Cough (Bordetella bronchiseptica): A contagious respiratory disease commonly spread in environments with high dog populations, such as boarding kennels and dog parks.

Cats

– Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper): A highly contagious viral disease causing severe gastrointestinal symptoms.

– Feline Calicivirus and Herpesvirus: Two common causes of respiratory infections in cats.

– Feline Leukaemia Virus: A viral infection affecting the immune system, leading to anaemia and increased susceptibility to other diseases.

What are the recommended timescales for vaccinations at The Irish Blue Cross? 

Puppies and Kittens: Start at 6-8 weeks, with boosters at 3-4 weeks.

Adult Dogs and Cats: Boosters every 12 months; longer gaps may require restarting the initial course.

💉 Why Vaccinate?

1. Prevention is Key: Vaccination is the best defence against diseases that can cause serious illness or even death in our pets. By keeping their vaccinations current, you’re providing a shield against illnesses that could otherwise impact their well-being and cause their human friends a lot of worry.

2. Community Health: Vaccination not only protects individual pets but also contributes to the overall health of the pet community. By reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases, we create a safer environment for all pets.

3. Cost-Effective Care: Prevention is often much more cost-effective than treating a disease after it has taken hold. Regular vaccinations can save you money by avoiding the expenses associated with treating preventable illnesses.

🐾Ensuring Our Pets Stay Healthy🐾

Vaccination is a safe and essential aspect of responsible pet ownership. By staying up-to-date with vaccinations, we can help our furry friends lead long, healthy lives free from the threat of preventable diseases. Let’s prioritize their well-being and ensure they receive the protection they deserve. 🐾❤️

Our Irish Blue Cross Mobile Clinics offer low cost vaccinations to eligible pet owners so every pet can be protected.

For more Pet Advice, click here; https://www.bluecross.ie/pet-advice/