Lesson 2: Responsible Pet Ownership
Vaccinations
Keeping pets current on vaccinations can help you avoid huge veterinary bills, not to mention the heartache of needlessly losing a much loved member of your family. Where rabies vaccinations are required by law, these must be administered by a veterinarian, otherwise, you can vaccinate your pet for other infectious diseases yourself, and save money, time, and pet stress.
Puppies should receive vaccinations against Parvovirus at 5 weeks of age. Parvo can be quick and deadly, especially for puppies. A combination vaccine without Leptospirosis at 6 and 9 weeks and a Coronavirus if that is of concern in your area. Then again at 12 and 15 weeks, along with Lyme disease and rabies.
Kittens should receive a combination vaccine at 6 weeks of age, and then another combination and a Chlamydia at 9 weeks. At 12 and 15 weeks, they need a combination vaccine, feline leukemia, Chlamydia, and rabies. Kittens who are at risk of Feline Infectious Peritonitis, will need an FIP vaccine at 16 and 19 weeks.
Adult dogs are generally given yearly boosters of combination vaccine, Lyme, and rabies. Adult cats are generally given yearly boosters of combination vaccine, feline leukemia, Chlamydia, FIP, and rabies, although recently veterinarians are debating whether yearly is necessary or even wise for some pets. Your veterinarian can best advise you on this. The Humane Society of The United States recommends rabies shots for ferrets.
Vaccine, along with needles and syringes can be purchased from some veterinarians or from feed stores or ordered online. Make sure they have been shipped on icepacks with next-day delivery.
You will have two vials; one with liquid and one with powder. Twist the needle onto the tip of the syringe. Push all air out of the syringe and insert the needle into the vial of liquid, withdrawing all of it. Inject this into the vial with powdered contents and then pull the needle out. Rock the vial gently for about thirty seconds, then reinsert the needle and withdraw all of the contents.
The vaccine will be injected just under the skin (subcutaneously). Find an area of loose skin. Usually the scruff of the neck is best as it is where the mother picked them up as babies and is the least sensitive area. Pull it up with your fingers, into a V shape and carefully insert the needle just under the skin, into the middle of the V. You may be surprised at how tough the skin of some animals can be. Make sure the needle is not in a vein, by pulling back gently on the plunger. If blood appears in the syringe, you must take the needle out and move to a different site. If no blood comes into the syringe, go ahead and slowly inject the vaccine. When you remove the needle you may give a few quick strokes to the area. Some say this prevents soreness.
You will want to keep track of your pet’s medical records, vaccinations, wormings, etc. A folder with your pet’s name on it will suffice.
