The topic of pet vaccines was hotly debated way before COVID came along. What’s a responsible pet parent to do? Let’s check out both sides of this debate, and see what your options are.
Core Vaccines
First off, it’s important to note that distemper and rabies are considered “core” vaccines, because they are the most important for both cats and dogs.
There are many other non-core vaccines available, as well. Depending on where you live, you may find that some non-core vaccines are also commonly used in your area.
Pro Vaccine Viewpoint
The argument for vaccines is pretty straightforward: It is a scientifically and medically proven fact that vaccines reduce the risk of illness and death from the disease(s) they protect against.
Vaccinations are affordable, reliable, and incredibly cheap when compared to the cost of treating any disease a vaccine could have prevented. Because of this, vaccines are widely used and almost universally recommended by veterinarians.
Anti Vaccine Viewpoint
A frequently raised concern amongst vaccine hesitant pet parents is why pets need so many vaccines each year. While humans don’t need to re-do their vaccines on a yearly basis (with the exception of COVID vaccines), pets do! It does appear to be a strange contrast. Making matters worse, there is a wealth of seemingly conflicting information available on this subject.
There are no unbiased extensive scientific studies on exactly how long each vaccine lasts. Some people suspect we don’t need to vaccinate each year. Unfortunately, we simply don’t have credible, conclusive proof on the subject. Or at least, we don’t have that information yet.
Where do you stand on Pet Vaccines?
Pro Vaccine
Anti Vaccine
Undecided
The Reality of Vaccine Side Effects
As with most medical treatments, there are some potential side effects.
Mild Side Effects
Tired or lethargic after vaccine
Bump at injection site
Soreness at injection site
Mild side effects are uncommon, but not unheard of.
Severe Side Effects
Vaccine-induced Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction)
Feline injection-site sarcoma (a rare skin tumor)
Autoimmune disease
Severe side effects are rare.
Vaccine Alternative
One popular vaccine alternative is a Titer Test. This involves a simple blood test which determines how much immunity your pet has currently. If the titer comes back too low in any area, you know it’s time to vaccinate. If not, you can skip the vaccines.
There are two drawbacks to titer testing:
Cost
The cost of a titer test is always going to be higher than the cost of the vaccines. That means not everyone can afford regular titer tests for their pet.
Accuracy
Titer tests are not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. The only way to know for sure if your pet’s immune system is up to the task is to expose them to a live virus/disease. Obviously that’s a horrible idea, so please don’t do that. Just be aware that a titer test is not totally foolproof.
Partial Vaccine Dose Compromise
Giving only part of a single vaccine dose to your pet has become a popular idea. Since many medications are dispensed based on the weight of the animal, (smaller = less medicine needed), it’s assumed that the same should hold true for vaccines.
Here’s a cool scientific fact: The dose required to properly protect your pet is universal. It’s not based on your pet’s physical weight, but rather on your pet’s immune system – which doesn’t know (or care) what size your pet is for the purpose of providing immunity.
A partial dose of any vaccine is a waste, as it can not provide proper protection for our pets. Save your money for a solution that can actually work, instead.
Your Local Laws
It should also be acknowledged that many states require regular rabies vaccinations for our pets. Different areas may require more or less frequent rabies boosters. This is one vaccine you shouldn’t expect to (legally) skip.
Conclusion
The safest choice is either providing at least the core vaccines for your pet on an annual basis, or getting an annual titer test.
If you have any concerns about giving your pet a vaccine, talk to your vet. They should be able to customize a solution that is right for your pet, and addresses any concerns you may have.
How We Can Help
Medical Cost Sharing is a community of people who rely on each other to pay their medical bills. We provide the first Pet Medical Cost Share, where pet parents combine forces to improve their pet’s lives on a long term basis.
Check out your Pet Membership options to join our community today.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we do not accept compensation for our blog posts, nor for reviewing, recommending, or linking to others.
Comments