immunizations and your pet

Routinely recommended vaccines for your pet are important, and we’ve got a hot secret for you: They’re included in Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans^®!

Below are some of the most common vaccines we recommend and provide.

Rabies vaccine for dogs and cats

Rabies is a fatal disease that can infect your pet and even your human family! It’s transmitted through bite or scratch from a rabies-infected animal. Common animals to have rabies are bats, racoons, foxes, and skunks. Rabies is no joke — it can cause paralysis, seizures, and ultimately death. Thankfully there’s good news though! Rabies is preventable in dogs and cats with routinely scheduled rabies vaccinations. This is a vaccine you won’t want your pet to miss, and in most parts of the country it’s required by law. (Plus, if you travel with your pet, some hotels or transportation companies might require proof of rabies vaccination.)

Distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza (DAPP) for dogs

This vaccine protects your pet against FOUR common and often fatal viruses. Distemper typically spreads from dog to dog and creates issues for the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems. Adenovirus is a hepatitis virus and can be transmitted through infected animals. Symptoms include lethargy, reduced appetite, abdominal pain with vomiting, diarrhea and fever, and the disease can sometimes be deadly. Parvovirus, or parvo, is also highly contagious and is most often found in puppies. It can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, and sometimes death. And lastly — parainfluenza, a common respiratory virus, leads to coughing, sneezing, and eye discharge, and it can easily spread between infected dogs. Your Banfield vet will schedule when your puppy or dog requires this multi-shot vaccine.

Leptospirosis (lepto) vaccine for dogs

Lepto is caused by bacteria and is typically transmitted through animal urine found in water or dirt. Signs typically include lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, and jaundice, and if not treated in a timely manner, the disease can damage the kidneys and liver and ultimately result in death. Similar to rabies, this is a disease that can affect pets AND people. Read more about the importance of the lepto vaccine here.

Feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia (FVRCP or feline distemper) vaccine for cats

This combination vaccine helps protect cats against three common contagious diseases. Feline rhinotracheitis, caused by feline herpes, can become a lifelong disease leading to chronic respiratory and eye issues. It isn’t lethal, but it can create uncomfortable symptoms for infected cats. Like rhinotracheitis, calicivirus causes upper respiratory infections and discharge from the eyes and nose. It can also lead to oral disease. Panleukopenia is a life-threatening disease that creates immunity issues by depleting the cat’s white blood cell count. It can spread easily from cat to cat and causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, depression, and it makes cats more susceptible to contracting other diseases.

Feline leukemia (FeLV) vaccine for cats

FeLV can be easily transmitted between cats through biting, grooming, and from mother-to-kitten. The virus suppresses immunity, which can make other viruses and bacteria more dangerous in infected cats, and it can cause cancer. Though FeLV is commonly fatal, a cat with the disease can live for several years after diagnosis with regular petcare. Thankfully because of the FeLV vaccine, the number of cats with the disease are trending down. Since this disease easily spreads between cats, it’s important to inoculate your furry friend, especially if they go outdoors.