The subject of pet vaccinations has been a hot topic in the past few years. But all the discussions about the vaccines that help and those that may not fail to highlight the goal. It is necessary to understand how the vaccines relate to a pet’s health. There are many places where pet vaccinations are a legal requirement. If you are a new pet parent, you need to understand the importance of pet vaccinations. 
 

Protection From Diseases

Just as vaccinations help keep humans safe from disease, the same is true for pets. Ensuring that you keep your pets’ vaccinations up to date will help keep them healthy and safe. Regular pet vaccinations are a vital part of vet care.

The vaccinations help strengthen the animal’s immunity, keeping them safe from diseases and infections. Pets need to receive vaccinations from a very early age. Newborn pets have weak immunity, and they require vaccines to help them fight off diseases. Prevention is better than cure.
 

Protecting Your Family

The importance of pet vaccinations goes beyond protecting your pet—it also means protecting your family. Pet vaccinations help protect the family constantly in contact with the pet. Some diseases can spread with ease from animals to humans.

Humans can contract diseases like rabies and leptospirosis from dogs. If you have children, the elderly, and family who have chronic conditions or are immunocompromised, you need to protect them.
 

Be Legally Compliant

Pet vaccinations are a legal requirement. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) states that pet owners need to update their pets' vaccinations. This is especially vital for rabies vaccinations.

Whether your pet leaves your home or not, they need to get the rabies vaccine. Some states require pet vaccines by law. Pet owners who fail to have their pets vaccinated risk paying a hefty fine. 
 

Protecting Other Pets

If you have several pets in your home, one sick pet can compromise the health of all the others. Many pet diseases are highly contagious. Regular pet vaccinations are necessary because they help protect the health of all the pets in your home.

Immunizing your pet will also protect other pets in your neighborhood. If a bite happens, you can be sure that your vaccinated pet will not transmit diseases to other animals. A pet that has not gone through immunizations can be a huge liability for the owners.
 

Help Save Money

Pet vaccinations will help you save money eventually. A sick pet can be very costly when you think about the price of treatment and frequent visits to the vet. Ensuring that your pet receives regular immunization will help prevent the need for expensive treatments and long periods of quarantine. It can be costly to take care of an ailing pet, especially when it involves a chronic condition.

If you ever need to board your pet, you must produce paperwork to prove updated vaccinations. Do not wait until you need to travel to start trying to get your pet vaccinated. For more on the importance of pet vaccinations, visit South Willamette Veterinary Clinic at our office in Creswell, Oregon. You can call (541) 313-3352 today to schedule an appointment.