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Vaccinations for dogs and cats are necessary in Michigan
Vaccinations protect your pet from bacteria and viruses that are harmful to their health and help extend their lives so you can spend more happy years with their company. Even pets who stay indoors benefit, because you can track diseases in from outside. Dundee Veterinary Clinic follows the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and American Association for Feline Practitioners recommendations to keep your pet safe from disease. We vaccinate only at necessary intervals using safe, effective vaccinations to minimize risk.
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feline vaccine faq
Why should my cat be vaccinated?
Vaccinations are an important part of responsible pet parenting. They stimulate the body’s immune system to identify and fight of specific infectious diseases, many of which cause serious illness or death. They are very effective against some illnesses, such as feline panleukopenia and reduce the severity of other infections such as feline herpes virus and calicivirus. This reduces the severity of disease, making if far less likely that they will die from the disease. Additionally, vaccinations can protect you and your family from zoonotic diseases such as Rabies, which is fatal once contracted.
Even my indoor cat?
Cats living exclusively indoors are still at risk for exposure in many circumstances, such as when traveling or boarding, interacting with other cats (new cats or outdoor cats through a screen), or from viruses that may be carried on the pet owner’s hands or clothing. Indoor pets can occasionally get out and are then at risk.
What is the risk of not vaccinating?
Without vaccination, many cats would become seriously ill or die from preventable diseases.
What’s the risk of vaccination?
The benefits of vaccination are far greater than the possible risks. A study of 500,000 cats given 1.25 million doses of various vaccinations reported a vaccination reaction rate of 0.52%, most of which mild, short-lived reactions such as lethargy, decrease in appetite, and fever that resolves with no treatment needed (just like children get with vaccinations). Rarely, more serious hypersensitivity reactions can happen (1-5 per 10,000 vaccinations, <0.05%). These reactions may cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, facial swelling or itching, or collapse and need to be addressed immediately. In a smaller population (studies range from 0.01% to 0.0063%) vaccine induced inflammation has been associated with sarcoma (tumor) development.
Can I vaccinate my own cats?
Cats should be routinely examined and re-evaluated for health and risk factors associated with certain diseases. Vaccination is a medical procedure and should be carried out by a trained professional. The storage and handling of vaccinations is also important, as vaccines can be ineffective if they are not stored and handled properly. For these reasons, we do not recommend or recognize home vaccination.