Animal Vaccinations 101
Animal vaccinations, also known as veterinary vaccines, are a vital tool in preventing the spread of infectious diseases among animals. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to:
Prevent many pet illnesses
Help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented
Prevent diseases that can be passed between animals and also from animals to people
Prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper
Prevent future disease or decrease the severity of clinical signs
Here’s a look at how vaccines do their job and some of the most common types of animal vaccinations.
How Do Animal Vaccines Work?
Vaccines work by introducing a small, safe piece of a disease-causing organism into an animal's body. This can be either a killed or inactivated form of the organism or a piece of its genetic material. Once inside the animal's body, the immune system recognizes the foreign substance as a threat and mounts an immune response. This response includes the production of antibodies and the activation of immune cells that will remember how to fight the disease in the future.
Vaccines may be delivered in series, with vaccinations scheduled at certain time intervals. It’s important that animals receive the full series of vaccinations in order to be fully protected.
Vaccines for Pets
Common vaccines for pets include:
Canine distemper, which is a highly contagious virus that affects dogs and other canids, such as foxes and wolves. Canine distemper attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of infected animals.
Feline leukemia (FeLV), which is a virus that attacks the immune system of infected cats. FeLV is spread through close contact with infected cats, such as sharing food and water bowls or grooming each other.
Rabies, which is a virus that affects all warm-blooded animals, including dogs, cats, cattle, and humans. It’s spread through the saliva of infected animals, usually through a bite.
Farm Animal Vaccines
Vaccines are not only for household animals, but are also essential protection for farm animals and other working animals. Animals commonly receive vaccinations for diseases such as:
Equine encephalomyelitis, which is a group of viral diseases that affect the nervous system of horses, donkeys and mules.
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, which causes acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract in cattle.
Brucellosis, a highly contagious infectious disease that spreads easily among cattle.
Porcine parvovirus, a common cause of reproductive problems in pigs.
Here at International Veterinary Outreach (IVO), we know the importance of animal vaccination and work to provide vaccines where they are otherwise unavailable. We’ve brought life-saving and community-changing vaccines to places like Dodoma, Tanzania; Jiquilillo, Nicaragua; and the island of Taal in the Philippines—and we’re just getting started! Support our animal health initiatives and international conservation by donating today!
