what is causing your dog to vomit?

The vaccinations your pet had when it was young don't give permanent protection against serious diseases. These vaccinations start pets on the road to immunity; however, they are also likely to need annual booster shots. Booster shots contain all the vaccinations a pet needs depending on where it is in its protection cycle. Why are these shots important?

Annual Vaccinations Protect Your Pet

Most of the vaccinations a young pet has don't give lifetime protection. These vaccinations help your pet's immune system build defenses against some diseases. However, they wear off over time.

Annual booster shots give your pet continued immunity. They boost your pet's immunity back up to effective protective levels. If you don't schedule these vaccinations, then your pet is at a higher risk of catching a disease you think it is protected against. If your pet catches one of these diseases, then it could get really sick. It might develop other long-term medical conditions. In extreme cases, your pet could die.

So, it makes sense to have annual boosters. Your pet will have ongoing disease protection.

Annual Vaccinations Protect the Wider Pet Community

Unvaccinated animals speed up the spread of common illnesses and diseases. You'll see a bigger outbreak of contagious diseases in an unvaccinated population. If most of the local pet population has had core vaccinations and annual boosters, then you contribute to building herd immunity. Diseases find it harder to spread in a vaccinated population. You don't just protect your pet but other people's pets as well.

Annual Vaccinations Protect Your Wallet

Some people stop having annual boosters because they think that this is an unnecessary cost. However, the money you spend on annual boosters actually saves you money. If you skip a booster, and your pet catches a contagious disease, then you are likely to need veterinary treatment. This treatment is likely to exceed booster vaccination costs, especially if your pet becomes seriously sick or needs long-term treatment.

Don't assume that pet insurance will cover you here. Carriers might cover your pet even if you declare that you won't have it vaccinated; however, you might have to pay higher premiums because your pet has a higher risk of catching a disease. Plus, in some cases, policies won't cover any treatment a pet has to have if it catches a disease for which a vaccination is available. You'll have to pay for treatment even though you've paid for insurance.

Annual vaccinations save money. If your pet doesn't get sick, then you won't have to pay vet bills. Insurance costs should be more manageable, and you should get better coverage. If you've skipped an annual booster or aren't sure if your pet is ready for one, contact your vet to schedule an appointment.

Contact a local vet to learn more about annual pet vaccinations.