The short answer is Yes!
We know there will be some pawrents with a different view, such as vaccinations are not not necessary. But hear us out and read on.
What does vaccines do?
They are crucial, cost-effective preventative measures against severe, often fatal, infectious diseases.
Vaccines “train” your fur kids’ immune system to recognise and fight specific dangerous viruses and bacteria before they can cause serious illness.
Key reasons for vaccinations
- Prevent life-threatening diseases: protect against diseases such as canine parvovirus, distemper, feline calicivirus, and panleukopenia.
- Prevent zoonotic diseases: certain vaccines protects against infections that can transfer from pets to humans.
- Herd immunity: high vaccination rates reduce the overall prevalence of viruses in the pet community.
- Indoor pets still need them: Indoor pets can be exposed to viruses brought in via air, clothes, shoes, or other visiting animals.
Core Vaccinations (Singapore Guideline)
- Dog: canine distemper, canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus, and rabies.
- Cat: feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia.
When to vaccinate?
- Puppies/Kittens: At around 6 to 8 weeks old, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks or older.
- Adults: Regular boosters are necessary. Annually or every 3 years depending on the vaccine type and veterinarian advice.
Titer Test
You can opt to do a titer test if you do not want to over vaccinate your fur kid. A titer test is a blood test that measures the concentration of specific antibodies in your fur kid’s blood to determine if they still have protective immunity from previous vaccination. It is a proactive tool to avoid over vaccinating your fur kid and ensuring that they only receives booster shots when necessary.
Do check and consult with your veterinarians if you have doubts or wish to know more about vaccinations for your fur kids.