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Vaccinations

Preventative care is an important aspect in maintaining your pet’s health. Proper vaccination is vital in protecting them against harmful diseases.

Veterinary Vaccinations in La Porte

Protect Your Pet & Your Community with Vaccinations

Vaccinations are incredibly important for the health of your pet and, more broadly, the health of the community at large. Just like vaccines for humans, vaccinating your pets can help prevent illness and limit the spread of disease. The ASPCA considers vaccines to be one of the best ways to keep your pets happy and healthy throughout their lives.

At Animal Clinic of La Porte, our team will work with you to understand their needs and medical history before we make any recommendations as to which vaccines are best for your pet.

For questions about our vaccine program at Animal Clinic of La Porte, please call (281) 709-2186 or contact us online for additional help and support.

Overview

We believe that preventative care is one of the most important aspects of maintaining your pet’s health. There are a variety of diseases that affect animals, so proper vaccination of your pet is vital in protecting them from the many types of illnesses to which they are susceptible to.

Why are vaccinations important?

Vaccinations are vital to the health and protection of your pet, and serve as a preventive measure in combating viral diseases like Parvovirus, Parainfluenza virus, Distemper, Lyme Disease, Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia Virus, and Rabies.

When should my pet get vaccinated?

Vaccinations are particularly important for puppies, kittens, and other young animals that have immature immune systems. Veterinary vaccinations generally begin at 6-8 weeks of age and then boostered throughout your pet’s life depending on the vaccine. Our doctors will determine the appropriate vaccination plan for your pet.

How are vaccines administered?

Vaccines help to combat diseases by exposing the pet's immune system to inactive or small amounts of a particular form of bacteria or virus. Vaccines are administered through a subcutaneous injection (under the skin), orally, or intra-nasally, depending on the vaccine.

Vaccinations are accompanied by a consultation and examination with our veterinarians to make certain that your pet's condition is stable enough to receive them. Proper and timely administration is necessary to ensure optimal protection.

Vaccinations & Your Pet

Your pet will need different vaccines depending on a variety of factors. Your La Porte veterinarian will ask you questions and examine your pet to determine which vaccines will best benefit your pet. Not all pets require the same vaccination schedule, but we’ll make sure that all their needs are covered by our vaccination program.

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines are a class of vaccinations which are considered to be universally necessary for your pets based on factors such as the communicability of the disease which they are intended to protect against and the severity of the disease itself.

Core vaccinations for dogs include:

  • Canine parvovirus

  • Canine hepatitis

  • Distemper

  • Rabies

Core vaccinations for cats include:

  • Feline calicivirus

  • Feline herpes virus type I

  • Rabies

  • Panleukopenia

Depending on your pet’s age, breed, sex, and lifestyle, our veterinary team may recommend other vaccinations not listed above. With all of our recommendations for your pet’s healthcare, we strive to protect and enhance their longevity and quality of life.

Vaccine Safety

Vaccines for pets undergo rigorous testing before they are released to the broader population. This means that the vaccines your pet receives are incredibly safe. However, it is possible, though uncommon, that your pet may experience a negative reaction. These reactions are generally mild and can include soreness, swelling, fever, or inflammation around the vaccination site.

If you notice any of these signs following your pet’s vaccination, please let your La Porte veterinarian know right away.

Remember that you are not only protecting your pet when you vaccinate them, you are also doing your part in protecting the broader community by preventing the spread of dangerous diseases. When your pet is vaccinated, it limits the likelihood of them catching or spreading a disease to other pets. If other pets are also vaccinated, the disease may not spread at all! This is essential for keeping our pets and community happy and healthy for many years to come.