Now that both of my pets are two years old they don’t need annual immunizations anymore. However, because some veterinarians still push for yearly shots, it’s tricky to determine which your pets need and when.
Although some states still require yearly rabies vaccinations (and you should check to see if that’s the case in your state), the truth is that as long as adult cats and dogs receive their rabies shots on a regular schedule, after their shot when they turn one year of age they only need the immunization, at most, once every three years.
Cats and dogs need their other vaccinations even less often. If you stop to think about it, it makes sense: as adults and even as children we don’t get immunized for every disease under the sun every year. Receiving the shots so often is actually a detriment to our health; our bodies store the information from a vaccine for years, and receiving the serum too frequently might make us sick.
The same is true for pets. Yet until recently, most veterinarians encouraged owners to bring their animals in for such shots ever year. That’s because some vets rely on the revenue from vaccinations to keep their practices running, so that way they can offer cheaper surgeries.
However, that practice is changing. Many vets are now giving immunizations every several years instead of annually. The problem is not all vets do this yet and it scares me. I don’t know anything about animal biology and health compared to my vet, and if my animals’ doctor is more dedicated to his or her pocket than to my pets’ health, how am I supposed to know?
I find it especially worrying because some vaccines are required more than others, and others are only necessary depending on the individual pet. Outdoor cats need more immunizations than those that stay indoors, but dogs and cats living in a home or kennel situation with many other animals also need more than pets that are the sole or amongst the few animals in the home.
There are several books on the market now exposing the truth about pet vaccines. Those concerned about what vaccines their pets should receive thus have options for further research on the topic.
You can also try asking your veterinarian about immunizations for your pet. Just because your pet doesn’t need shots yearly doesn’t mean that they don’t need to go to the vet regularly; annual checkups are still essential to keeping your pet in good health.
When you take your pet in for its yearly visit, try asking about your animal’s immunization schedule. If the vet seems suspiciously enthusiastic about giving vaccines often then perhaps you should ask around about other vets, or at least research more yourself about what specific shots your pets need and when they should get them.
There are recommended schedules for dogs here and for cats here, but those are for the average dog and cat, so your pet’s situation might be different. I do still recommend talking to your vet about your pet’s vaccination schedule.
If you feel like your vet might not be reliable you can try doing further research to educate yourself about what’s best for your individual pet while searching for another vet. Remember how vital it is to still take your pet for an annual physical, just like you would for yourself or your children.
Related Articles:
What to Consider When Getting a Dog
Should You Vaccinate Your Own Pets?
What to Consider When Getting a Cat
*(This image by Lognior is licensed under the photl.com license.)