Things to know about the pet vaccination
Vaccinating your pet is crucial for protecting them from severe illnesses. Vaccination, or immunization, works by injecting a substance that activates the recipient’s immune system, allowing it to recognize and effectively combat invading viruses. Then, if the same virus appears again, the immune system knows exactly how to defeat it.
A lot of people have questions and concerns about pet vaccinations. Therefore, we’ve put together the basics that everyone should know about vaccinations for dogs and cats.
Why should you vaccinate your pets?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are five reasons to vaccinate your pet.
- Vaccinations prevent many pet illness.
- Vaccinations can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented.
- Vaccinations prevent diseases that can be passed between animals and also from animals to people.
- Diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper, can infect unvaccinated pets.
- In many areas, local or regional regulations require certain vaccinations of household pets.
What vaccinations does my pet need?
Vaccinations are divided into two categories; core and lifestyle. Veterinarians recommend routinely getting core vaccinations for your dog or cat. On the other hand, lifestyle vaccinations are optional depending on your lifestyle because certain activities can bring some specific risks.
Apart from rabies vaccination (which is always required), dogs and cats have slightly different vaccination requirements.
Vaccination for dogs
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Vaccinating your pet is crucial to protect them from severe illnesses. The process of vaccination, or immunization, works by injecting a substance that activates the recipient’s immune system, allowing it to recognize and effectively combat invading viruses. Then, if the same virus appears again, the immune system knows exactly how to defeat it.
A lot of people have questions and concerns about pet vaccinations. Therefore, we’ve put together the basics that everyone should know about vaccinations for dogs and cats.
So, why should you vaccinate your pets?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are five reasons to vaccinate your pet:
- Vaccinations prevent many pet illnesses.
- Vaccinations can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented.
- Vaccinations prevent diseases that can be passed between animals and also from animals to people.
- Diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper, can infect unvaccinated pets.
- In many areas, local or regional regulations require certain vaccinations of household pets.
But what vaccinations does my pet need?
Vaccinations are divided into two categories; core and lifestyle. For instance, veterinarians recommend routinely getting core vaccinations for your dog or cat. On the other hand, lifestyle vaccinations are optional depending on your lifestyle because certain activities can bring some specific risks.
Apart from rabies vaccination (which is always required), dogs and cats have slightly different vaccination requirements.
In the case of vaccination for dogs:
Core vaccinations are rabies and DHPP (or DA2P) in Ontario.
Lifestyle vaccinations are bordetella, leptospirosis, and lyme.
Rabies vaccination is required by law in Ontario. You need valid rabies certificates as a dog owner in many situations, such as travel and grooming appointments. There is more information about rabies vaccinations at the bottom of this post.
Vaccination for cats
As for vaccination for cats:
Core vaccinations are rabies and FVRCP.
Lifestyle vaccinations are leukemia, leptospirosis, and lyme.
Click here to read more about types of vaccinations
What is the vaccination schedule for puppies and kittens?
The core vaccination schedule is explained below.
Meanwhile, lifestyle vaccination usually starts at the age of 10-12 weeks. Please consult with your vet to learn more about lifestyle vaccination schedules.
Puppy vaccination schedule
*DHPP covers distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and two types of adenovirus (hepatitis)
Kitten vaccination schedule
When can adult dogs or cats get vaccinated?
You can vaccinate your adult pet at any age. Specifically, dogs or cats with a low-risk lifestyle can update their core vaccinations (e.g. rabies) every three years.
If your pet requires lifestyle vaccines, your vet will discuss with you whether they need vaccinations or booster shots, and how often
Keep in mind that if the booster is more than three months late, then the primary shot is no longer effective. In such a case, you have to restart vaccination from the first round.
Click here to read more about vaccine schedule for dogs or cats
Will vaccination make my dogs or cats sick?
Indeed, you might worry about side effects after your pet gets vaccinated.
In fact, Your pet may or may not experience some symptoms for the first day, such as:
- Discomfort and local swelling at vaccination site
- Mild fever
- Less activity or appetite than usual
- Mild coughing or other respiratory signs (for 2-5 days).
Moreover, if any of those symptoms last for more than a day or two, or cause your pet significant discomfort, you should contact your veterinarian.
If your pet has any of these symptoms, call your veterinarian right away:
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Itchy skin that may seem bumpy
- Swelling of the muzzle and around the face, neck, or eyes
- Severe coughing or difficulty breathing
- Collapse
If your pet has had a previous vaccine reaction, inform your veterinarian before their next vaccination.
Click this link to read more about the symptoms of vaccination
How much does pet vaccination cost?
Owners can expect to pay between $100 and $350 for an annual exam and vaccination for puppies in Ontario. Furthermore, after the first year, the vaccination cost with examination will decrease to between $80 and $250.
According to Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, the annual cost of all vaccines and boosters, as well as physical exams, for a kitten in their first year can average $524. This is quite expensive compared to puppy vaccinations, because kittens need multiple vaccinations and booster shots. However, this is just an average price and it could be lower depending on your cat’s need for lifestyle vaccinations. After the first year, the cost for an annual vaccination with examination will be around $70~$200.
The exact costs may vary depending on the clinic.
What happens if I do not vaccinate my pet?
It is your responsibility to ensure you and your pet stay healthy. However, the rabies vaccine is required by federal and provincial legislation, and you might be charged a fine if you break this law.
The government of Ontario states that your cat or dog must be vaccinated against rabies as soon as it is 3 months old and this vaccination must be kept up-to-date for its entire life. Rabies is a fatal disease for both pets and people. Therefore, in Canada, rabies vaccines protect pets from all strains of rabies found in North America.
Vaccines in general can prevent your pet from getting costly, painful, and in some cases life-threatening diseases. The cost of vaccinations is much lower than the cost of treating these diseases, and it will prevent suffering for your pet.
