The Risks of Not Vaccinating Pets

Vaccination plays a significant role in ensuring your pet remains healthy. Various diseases can pose a risk to your pet and cause devastating effects. Most viruses have no cure. However, pet owners can take preventative measures such as vaccination.

The environment and animals that interact with an unvaccinated pet can cause them a risk of some infections. Vaccines help stimulate their immune system by exposing them briefly to the illness. Their immune system then responds strongly and faster due to the memory of the ailment. As a result, the pet successfully beats the disease and gets it off its system.

Most veterinarians recommend yearly boosters for most diseases. They do so to ensure the pet always has a vigilant immune system. Clinical examinations are also ideal to ensure some health problems get caught early. Failure to vaccinate your pet exposes them to some risks. Read on to learn more.

Canine Parvovirus

Your dog needs vaccination to prevent getting this fatal ailment that can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. Failure to do so will leave your dog severely dehydrated with a damaged immune system that cannot fight infections. The virus is very tough and cannot die once in the environment, even with standard disinfectants.

Feline Infectious Enteritis

Cats are in increased danger of getting this fatal disease caused by feline parvovirus (FPV). It results in a low count of white blood cells. The illness can survive in the environment for many years, and no disinfectant can kill it. Hence, vaccination is ideal.

Canine Distemper Virus

Vaccination protects your dog from getting this disease. The ailment increases the risk of pneumonia, brain disease, diarrhea, and vomiting. Your pet can also die.

Feline Flu

Respiratory diseases can affect cats and lead to fatal damage. Mild cases of this disease can affect the cat’s eyes and make them blind. Therefore, vaccination is essential to keep them in good health.

Leptospirosis

Your dog can contract this disease and pass it on to you. Dogs get this infectious bacterial ailment when they drink water that has been in contact with rat urine. Bacteria from the infected water spreads through your pet’s body through their bloodstream.

As a result, this increases their risk of kidney and liver damage. Younger pets are often at a high risk of getting infected. They also suffer severe complications.

Feline Leukemia Virus

Your cat has an increased risk of getting this incurable viral disease if you do not get them vaccinated against it. Detecting it can be difficult as the symptoms can be mild and vague. However, your pet’s white blood cells can get damaged as time progress.

The disease compromises the pet’s immune system and affects their ability to fight off common ailments. They get prone to frequent infections, weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, and fever. Your cat can develop anemia, become weak, and be lethargic, with pale gums and tongue.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis ICH

Your pet can have severe kidney or liver damage through this infection. Dogs get it through bodily fluids or feces from infected animals. The infection travels through the mucous membrane in their mouth and nose before reaching the tonsils. The illness then moves to the kidneys and liver. Vaccination is the only defense as the disease has no cure.

Kennel Cough

Dogs who spend most of their time in kennels are at a high risk of getting kennel cough if they do not get vaccinated. The vaccine protects them from the disease and flu.

Parainfluenza

Dogs who live close to each other or visit places frequently visited by dogs often get exposed to this viral infection. It can spread through coughing or sneezing. It can also spread through toys, bowls, and beddings. Vaccination reduces the risk of your dog getting this infection.

For more about pet vaccinations, visit Community Pet Outreach at our office in Lewisville, Texas. Call (972) 848-8930 to book an appointment today.