At Harvey Animal Hospital in Grosse Pointe, we work to keep pets healthy for as long as possible. An integral part of extending wellness is pet vaccinations because they protect against diseases that would otherwise pose a huge risk to our pet’s health but also to public health in general. It’s only been through the widespread and responsible use of vaccines that many animal diseases have been controlled. Furthermore, some diseases like rabies and leptospirosis are zoonotic and can be passed onto people. Schedule a vaccination series for a puppy or kitten, or update needed vaccines during annual health checks.

New Puppy or Kitten? Start a Series First Thing

Puppies and kittens can be the most vulnerable to diseases, vaccines protect them while their bodies are still growing. Before they are weaned, mother’s milk provides antibodies, but this protection isn’t sufficient as pets venture out into the world. They need the stimulating immune response only pet vaccinations can provide and they need them in the first two months of their life. After initial vaccination, we typically prescribe a series of booster shots every 3-4 weeks until pets are around four months old. If you have a new puppy or kitten, talk to us about all their necessary wellness checks. Though vaccines are of prime importance, they are only one part of your puppy or kitten’s health care routine.

Updating Vaccines

Your pet’s protection doesn’t end after a puppy or kitten vaccination series ends. In order to continue safeguarding your loved one, it’s important to routinely update their vaccines. Current pet vaccinations guidelines set forth by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) call for measures to ascertain the risk level certain diseases pose to each pet. Therefore, we determine exactly what vaccines adult pets should receive and how often on a case-by-case basis. Most pets will need to be revaccinated annually or every three years depending on their level of exposure to other animals and travel tendencies.