According to Forbes, 62% of U.S. households own at least one pet. If you're part of this statistic, you should know that vaccines are just as crucial for your pet as they are for you. They safeguard against most ailments that affect your pet. Having your pet vaccinated at an animal clinic is an easy and effective way of ensuring they live a long, healthy life.

Understanding Vaccines

Vaccines work by preparing your pet's immune system to fend off the invasion of pathogenic organisms. They contain antigens that mimic the disease-causing organism but don't cause disease. When the vaccine is administered at an animal clinic, your pet's immune system is mildly stimulated. If they come into contact with the actual disease, their immune system will be ready to identify and eliminate it or lessen its severity.

This article looks at the essential vaccines for dogs and cats.

Vaccines for Your Dog

It goes without saying that there are multiple essential vaccines that are recommended by the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force. The first of which is for rabies, which is a fatal disease. All mammals, humans included, can be infected with the lethal rabies virus. Laws in most states mandate that dogs receive rabies vaccines. Canine distemper virus is another necessary vaccine. This infectious viral illness affects a few different organs.

The next core vaccine for your dog is for canine parvovirus. This contagious virus typically causes gastrointestinal disease and is often fatal when contracted by puppies and immunosuppressed dogs. The final vaccine is for canine adenovirus-2, which is a contagious virus that affects a dog's respiratory system.

Vaccines for Your Cat

The following core vaccines are recommended for cats by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) task force, and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

Just like your dog, your cat will also need a vaccine against rabies. This is a severe condition that infects the brain and often results in death. You should also get your cat a feline calicivirus vaccine, as it's a highly infectious virus that causes oral and respiratory infections.

Feline herpesvirus-1 is another core cat vaccine. This contagious disease frequently causes respiratory and eye infections in cats. Another vital vaccine for your cat is feline panleukopenia, which is caused by the feline parvovirus. It can be lethal for kittens and immunosuppressed cats.

Vaccinating your pet at an animal clinic can safeguard it from most illnesses. Doing this will significantly lower the possibility of needing costly treatment later on. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment for your pet.