Debunking Pet Vaccination Myths

Vaccinations are vital for protecting the health of pets and their owners from several significant diseases. Unfortunately, multiple myths have caused some people to doubt the safety or effectiveness of vaccines. The veterinary team at South Granville Animal Hospital in Creedmoor, NC, is here to debunk some common vaccination myths and explain the importance of puppy and kitten vaccinations.

Vaccine Safety Myths

A frequent pet vaccine myth is that the vaccine can give your cat or dog an illness. While vaccines can cause some side effects, your pet should never develop the disease the vaccine protects against. Your pet developing an illness after getting a vaccine could be due to an infection just before its scheduled vaccination.

Many people also believe that pets do not need vaccinations if they do not go outdoors. The truth is that diseases can still reach your pets through human footwear and other objects. Furthermore, many indoor animals escape the home on occasion. Your indoor pet’s risk level of developing some diseases may be lower, but the risk is still significant enough that your pet needs a protected immune system.

Another increasingly common myth is that vaccines can give your dog autism. Almost two out of every five canine owners have accepted this myth about puppy vaccinations as a fact. While there is some disagreement as to whether animals can have autism in the first place, there is no data linking vaccines to it.

Benefits of Vaccination

When a veterinarian vaccinates your pet, it boosts the animal's immune system and prevents life-threatening illnesses. Rabies has a fatality rate of nearly 100 percent, and feline leukemia kills about half of infected cats in less than three years. Some diseases can spread to other species, including humans. State laws or pet service providers even require some vaccines to protect the safety and well-being of people and pets.

Puppy and kitten vaccinations are integral to pet prevention care and only involve a small risk of side effects. Few animals experience significant reactions to vaccines. For example, statistics show that only three to four out of every 1,000 dogs will suffer a severe reaction due to a vaccine. Vaccines provide a safe and effective way to protect your pet’s health from potentially life-threatening diseases.

Get Kitten and Puppy Vaccinations at South Granville Animal Hospital Today

South Granville Animal Hospital in Creedmoor, NC, offers multiple kitten and puppy vaccinations and vaccines for adult pets to ensure their continued health and happiness. We recognize the importance of using prevention care to ensure long-term pet wellness, so call us and schedule an appointment today at (919) 528-3591 to protect your pet’s well-being through vaccinations.