FAQ:
Vaccinations
"Does my pet need to be vaccinated?"
- YES.
The rabies vaccination is required by
law in the
United States. Due to the severe nature of the disease, the
ease of spread (through saliva), and the high risk of exposure to
wildlife, it is important to vaccinate every dog and
cat.
- Indoor pets must still be vaccinated
for rabies but your veterinarian may recommend other vaccines based
on exposure. For information about rabies exposure in the
United States, a link is provided from the CDC (below). It is
because of a strict vaccine program that we
have almost eradicated
rabies in domestic animals.
Centers for Disease Control - Rabies Information:
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/pets/index.html
"Why does the veterinarian need to see my dog/cat? Can a technician give their shots?"
- The Veterinary Practice Act requires that a veterinarian examine patients on a regular basis in order to prescribe medications (including over the counter medication) or offer preventative treatments.
- It is against
our policy to give vaccinations to any patients without a clean
bill of health. The immune system may not respond appropriately to
a vaccine if it is already fighting other
pathogens.
- At our clinic, growing puppies and kittens are examined every 3-4 weeks when given boosters. This allows our veterinarian to monitor for diseases which may affect growing animals (e.g. parvovirus, parasites, etc.) and to ensure that your pet is on the right track growing into a healthy adult. If a vaccination is split up by 1 week (due to risk of allergic reaction) then a technician may give the vaccine.
