Experts weigh in on the importance of vaccinating your pets

DELMARVA – For new pet owners, vaccinations might be a confusing subject, leaving you wondering which vaccines are most important and how often your pets need them.

Mike Kaviani, COO of the Brandywine Valley SPCA, says vaccines are the tried and true ways to keep your pet healthy. For both cats and dogs, rabies is one of the most important vaccines, and should be updated annually.

“I get some folks not wanting to get their dog or their cat a yearly vaccine but if god forbid something happened and your pet even accidentally bit somebody out of fear or they weren’t feeling well or they were hurt, not being actually fully vaccinated and current on their rabies vaccine is going to be so much worse for your pet than just getting that vaccine as your vet recommends,” said Kaviani.

There are several additional vaccines that Kaviani recommends. For a dog, distemper, parvo, kennel cough, and canine influenza are a few of the key vaccines, while cat owners should consider vaccinating their furry friend against feline leukemia, calicivirus, and herpes.

If you’re unsure of whether or not to get your pets vaccinated, Kaviani says to trust your veterinarian’s recommendations.

“For the most part I tell most pet owners to not overthink it, to trust the guidance of your veterinarian, trust the science. I think the risks of not vaccinating your pets to me far outweigh the potential side effects from vaccines.”

In addition to vaccines, Kaviani suggests keeping up with heartworm treatments, as well as taking preventative measures against fleas and ticks.