Vaccinations for Cats and Dogs

Vaccinations are important to protect dogs and cats from various diseases, some of which can have lifelong repercussions or can be fatal.

Some states, like Illinois, have statewide laws regarding rabies vaccination for dogs and cats. Other states, like California, only require dogs to be vaccinated for rabies.
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As for states that do not have statewide laws for pet vaccinations, individual municipalities can still have ordinances on the matter. One example of such a state is Colorado (which does not have statewide laws regarding rabies vaccination) — but Denver, Colorado requires dogs and cats to get rabies shots.

When in doubt, make sure to check both the laws in your state and ordinances in your city of residence.

Some states and municipalities may allow exemptions to their vaccination requirements for medical reasons. However, these exemptions generally require a veterinarian's certification.

Dogs and cats require a series of core vaccinations, including vaccinations for rabies, distemper, and etc. Dogs and cats have separate sets of core vaccines that they need.
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Depending on the risks that your pet is exposed to, our veterinarians may also recommend other vaccines for Bordetella, canine influenza, leptospirosis, and feline leukemia virus, respectively.

Each cat or dog vaccine follows a specific schedule for the initial shot, booster shot (if any), and revaccinations. Our veterinarians can recommend a vaccination schedule that is best suited for your pet.

Our veterinarians will keep a record of your pet’s vaccinations. And if you have questions about your pet’s pending vaccinations, you can easily get answers from our Pet Parent Concierge team. However, even with this reliable support system in place, we encourage pet parents to keep their own record of their pet’s vaccination in case they want their own personal reference.

The duration of protection provided by a vaccine depends on the vaccine. Some vaccines require booster shots to maintain their efficacy. The frequency of booster shots depends on the indications of the vaccine and the pet’s needs.

Vaccinations should be administered by a licensed veterinarian to ensure the proper storage, handling, and administration of the vaccines.

Similar to how human vaccines work, pets may exhibit lethargy and a slight fever after getting vaccinated. This happens while their immune system responds to the vaccine. This can last for a couple of days.

Vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system. Therefore, it’s normal for cats and dogs to experience mild symptoms after getting vaccinated. The usual side effects of vaccines are decreased energy, mild fever, decreased appetite, and mild discomfort.

We don’t recommend vaccinating a dog or cat that is not healthy. If your furry companion is sick and exhibiting symptoms like fever, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and etc., it is best to bring them in for a veterinary check-up so they can be given appropriate treatment.

Vaccinations are safe for a majority of dogs and cats. However, there is still a small risk of adverse reactions.

In some rare cases, a cat or dog may react adversely to a vaccine. Reach out to our team immediately if you notice these symptoms:

• Itchy skin
• Development of hives or bumpy skin
• Facial swelling
• Persistent diarrhea or vomiting
• Severe coughing or breathing difficulties
• Collapse

For each vaccine, there is a recommended age when puppies and kittens can get them. It is best to vaccinate a pet as soon as it’s appropriate to avoid the transmission of disease from unvaccinated animals, wildlife, and other sources of infection.

It is important to note that some diseases cause lifelong changes in a pet’s health (e.g. compromised immunity, lifelong carrying of certain viruses) which is another reason why timely vaccination is highly recommended.

Senior pets can still benefit from regular vaccinations. However, senior cats and dogs may be given different vaccination schedules depending on their individual needs.

Typically, veterinarians will recommend dogs and cats with an unclear vaccination history to restart vaccination; this is a safe and hassle-free option in healthy pets. 

In other cases wherein there is some risk tied to administering vaccination and/or vaccination is required for exportation to some countries, a vaccine titer test is used to measure the level of antibodies a pet has to a disease, thereby measuring immunity against a disease. This helps determine if revaccination is absolutely necessary.

You can conveniently schedule your pet’s vaccination whether it’s days, weeks, or months in advance!

If you need an urgent visit, our doors are also open for same-day appointments and drop-offs.

We only accept cashless payments to ensure the safety of our clinics and clients. Pet parents can pay with any major credit or debit card, as well as CareCredit and ScratchPay.

If vaccinations are covered by your pet’s insurance plan or pet wellness plan, then you may be able to claim reimbursement from your provider. It's important to note that pet insurance or wellness plans cover different veterinary treatments. For more information about your pet’s insurance coverage, please contact your provider.