Annual vaccinations are the most important preventive measure you can take for the health of your pet. Health threats vary from city to city and even in various sections of cities. Therefore, your veterinarian can tailor an immunization program for your pet based on local conditions. Your dog or cat generally can be immunized for the following diseases: Dogs can be immunized against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, coronavirus, Bordetella, rabies, and Lyme disease. Cats can be immunized against feline panleukopenia (distemper), rabies, feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, chlamydia, feline leukemia, and FIP.

Getting complacent about your pet’s vaccinations puts your pet in danger. A study published in the May/June 1995 issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association attributes a lack of vaccination to more than 93 percent of cases during an Indiana distemper outbreak. The study concluded that a lack of vaccination was associated with a 300-fold increase in the risk of distemper.