How vaccines work:Legend has it that Albert Einstein once said, "If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it well enough." We could certainly get in-depth into the science of immunizations, but for simplicity's sake, here's an anyone-can-understand version:
How your pet's vaccines help protect your family:![]() Some diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. In dogs and cats, the most common zoonotic concern is the Rabies virus. Rabies is a fatal disease, most often transmitted via bite wounds from an infected animal. It is a problem in Pennsylvania. According to data from the PA Dept. of Health, there were 405 Rabies positive animals submitted in 2016 (21 in Allegheny County). The most recently released data from June 2017 reports 154 Rabies positive animals statewide - in just one month. Keep in mind that the PADOH is only able to report these numbers based on animals that were submitted for testing. This does not include many more that die from the disease, undetected in the woods. The Rabies vaccine for dogs and cats is extremely effective, and is required for all domestic animals by PA state law (yes, they do go door-to-door and check). A common question from cat owners: "Pumpkin never goes outside; why does she still need a Rabies vaccine?" State law aside, indoor cats still need to be protected. Though their risk for exposure is much less than a free-roaming outdoor cat, take a look at the map above: bats are the second most common Rabies positive animals in PA. Most often, these are bats that have made their way into homes through chimneys or by other means. Cats are prey animals, and Pumpkin would be thrilled to finally get a chance to nab that "hairy bird" that just flew into her house. Not good if the "hairy bird" is actually a rabid animal. There is no "one-size-fits-all" vaccine regimen.There are many vaccines available for dogs and cats, but not every pet needs every vaccine. Our veterinarians recommend immunizations based upon your pet's lifestyle and environmental risk - this is one reason we spend extra time to ask important questions during your appointment. Vaccinations can be divided into "core" and "non-core" vaccines:
There are no silly questions!As your pet's medical providers, part of our job is to help you be a well-informed pet owner.
If you have questions about your pet's vaccines, the diseases they prevent, or anything else, please ask us!
33 Comments
4/19/2018 11:57:29 am
Thank you for mentioning the importance of rabies shots. I had the same question for my last cat, but never voiced it to the vet. It's good to know that there are circumstances where they can catch these things inside the home and that there is a way that we can prevent it.
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8/20/2018 01:37:54 pm
It's a bit scary that some diseases can be transferred from animals to humans--like rabies. I've been thinking about adopting a pet, though I haven't been sure which vaccinations that animal will need. Where can I learn more about vaccines and which ones animals need?
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Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital
8/27/2018 10:25:17 am
Hi Bethany!
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8/22/2018 10:48:15 pm
Our 6 puppies are now on their 8th weeks. I heard that they need to be vaccinated so I am now looking for a veterinarian near us. It really helped when you said that rabies can be very fatal and needs our attention.
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Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital
8/27/2018 10:35:49 am
Hello Joy!
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3/21/2019 01:16:48 am
You're correct when you said that vaccines help prevent pets from contracting preventable diseases. I think I will have my dog vaccinated if some diseases that he has can be passable to humans. Since I want him to avoid getting vaccines as much as possible, I'll take him to a veterinarian to get the proper vaccinations he should get.
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5/3/2019 12:04:53 pm
Thanks for explaining that rabies vaccinations are required by law in some states for both dogs and cats. My husband and I just moved into our own home, and we want to get two dogs because we've been stuck in apartments that don't allow pets since we got married. I'm glad I read your article because now I know that we'll need to look into having them vaccinated!
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7/12/2019 12:45:58 pm
Thanks for explaining how it is important for pets to receive vaccines to avoid getting rabies. I had no idea that there were 405 reported cases of rabies in in 2016. My family just adopted a puppy Golden Retriever, so we will start looking for a vet we can go to so our puppy can get vaccinated.
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Rabies is required by law in the US. Distemper, Parvo, and Lepto can kill your dog pretty damn quick, and either live in the soil or in water, which means if your dog ever goes outside they have a chance to encounter them. Got mosquitos where you live? Then heartworm is an issue. Got dirt where you live? Then intestinal worms are an issue.
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I thought that it was interesting when you said that even indoor pets need to receive vaccinations to protect them from harmful illnesses. I have been thinking about getting a cat but I haven't been sure what considerations to make for her. I will be sure to have her receive all appropriate vaccinations in order to ensure that she will live a long life.
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10/14/2019 01:16:43 pm
Personally, I hate vaccines so I would like to know why my pet needs vaccines. I like how you mention that it's important to vaccinate your pet because some diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans. Thank you for the information, this actually worried me a bit because he doesn't have his vaccines. I'll take my dog to a veterinary so he can get the vaccines he needs.
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1/10/2020 07:01:56 am
Useful suggestions...
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2/14/2020 05:12:59 pm
My wife and I just got a kitten a couple of weeks ago for our 1-year anniversary. We are really excited to have her home, but we were wondering about getting her vaccinated. Thanks for mentioning that vaccines create antibodies by adding small amounts of a weakened disease. We will be sure to find a veterinary hospital nearby to get the appropriate shots for our new kitten.
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2/27/2020 10:47:43 am
It made sense when you said that indoor pets still need a rabies vaccinations because disease carriers such as bats can commonly get inside our home. My husband and I plan on buying our daughter a corgi puppy for her tenth birthday next month. Thanks for helping me understand why using a vet service for vaccinations is something we need to prioritize!
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3/31/2020 08:52:10 pm
My sister is planning to give me a beagle puppy as a gift and I'm trying to figure out ways on how to keep him healthy even though he's not with me yet. I had no idea that there are states that require pet owners to vaccinate their pets for Rabies. The idea of this puppy getting rabies is very concerning for me. I should go ahead and look for clinics I can go to once I already have him.
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5/17/2020 10:15:10 pm
My brother is about to own a puppy and he's wondering if they have some sort of vaccine available for dogs. I find it amazing to learn that dogs have their form of vaccines that can help protect them from unwanted viruses. I should share this with him so he could visit the nearby animal hospital for a vaccine shot.
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6/9/2020 09:25:42 am
I didn't realize that vaccinations create antibodies in the system so that the body can kill the virus if it ever enters the body. We recently got a little puppy and want to make sure we give her the best care possible. At what age should they start getting vaccinations?
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6/23/2020 01:43:43 pm
I'm glad you explained that indoor cats still need vaccinations just in case an infected animal gets in our home, such as a bat. My husband and I are thinking about adopting the cat we found on the street because he doesn't have a microchip and we haven't had a response to our "found" flyers and social media posts. Thanks for helping me understand the importance of finding a veterinary service to vaccinate the cat!
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6/30/2020 03:10:22 pm
It's interesting that you elaborate on how vaccines can help protect your dog from infectious diseases. I want to make sure my new dog doesn't catch any diseases, so I'm considering taking him to a veterinarian to get vaccinated. I'm going to search for a good veterinary clinic in my area that does dog vaccinations.
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9/18/2020 09:17:50 am
I didn't realize that some diseases can be spread from animals from animals to humans. We recently got a sweet little puppy, and want to make sure that she stays healthy. I will have to let my husband know how important vaccines are and get her taken care of.
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2/5/2021 12:14:06 pm
I didn't know that an animal with rabies is capable of transmitting the disease when they bite other animals. My wife and I have recently noticed that raccoons have been starting to hide under the deck in our backyard recently, and we'd like to make sure that they do not get our new cat sick since she spends most of her time outside. We'll make sure that our cat is vaccinated in order to keep her safe.
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3/26/2021 03:16:21 am
I appreciated it when you shared that vaccines are important to protect your pets from getting certain illnesses. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is thinking of adopting a cat so that she can have a companion as she has been living alone for years. I will suggest to her taking her new pet for vaccination so it will not get any dangerous disease.
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4/8/2021 02:53:18 pm
Thank you for highlighting that it is important to have our pets vaccinated as they can help the pets fight diseases. My brother is planning to adopt a puppy. I will remind him to ensure it gets vaccinated to protect his health and everyone else's.
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4/30/2021 09:58:30 pm
My uncle has been thinking about getting the right vaccines for his cat. He would really like to get some help from a professional in order to be a lot safer. It was interesting to learn about how vaccines can work
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12/21/2021 08:07:07 pm
I find it helpful to know that diseases are spread by viruses or bacteria. Each of these germs has a unique "code," or antigen. My son told me earlier that he noticed a lump on our dog’s lower abdomen. Perhaps it’s time to take our pet to a reputable veterinarian to get a pet ultrasound. Thanks.
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3/16/2022 07:59:00 pm
It's interesting when you said that vaccinations are anti-bodies that protect pets from viruses and diseases. My mother mentioned to me that she is planning to have her pet vaccinated and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell her that she can consult a well-known pet service as they can answer all her inquiries and will provide good care of her pet.
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3/22/2022 08:26:37 am
It got me curious when you wrote that not all vaccines are suggested for every pet. We just adopted a cat, and we want her to get all the necessary pet vaccinations. I think we should bring my cat to the nearest veterinarian to know the vaccines she needs to get.
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3/29/2022 09:27:16 pm
It's interesting when you said that vaccines are tested and will ensure the safety of your pet. My sister told me that she planned to have her pet vaccinated and asked if I had any idea what could be the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell her that she can consult a well-known veterinary service as they can answer all her inquiries and will provide good care for her pet.
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