Immunization Awareness Month for Pets

Immunizations, or vaccines, are very important to the health of your pet.  Vaccines are vital in preventing many contagious diseases, as well being required by law and by many dog parks, boarding facilities, doggie daycares, and groomers.  Below, we break down our vaccine recommendations at West Lake Animal Hospital in Springfield Illinois. 

Canine Companions:  dogs are required by law to be vaccinated for Rabies in the state of Illinois.  We offer both a three year and a one year vaccine, with the majority of our clients opting for the one year vaccine.  Additional vaccinations that we believe most dogs should receive each year are Distemper, Leptosporosis, Kennel Cough, and Lyme Disease.  Each patient is evaluated and our recommendation is based on their exposure to certain environments and situations.  Distemper is given to nearly every dog annually.  Locally, the rate of the distemper virus has been very high in wildlife this summer, thus making the risk to our pets higher.  Leptosporosis is a bacteria that is shed in the urine of wildlife.  Dogs at risk are those that go camping, go to the lake, woods, ponds, or creeks, or if you have raccoons, opossums, or skunks that travel through your backyard.  We see quite a few cases of leptosporosis in Springfield, IL and it can be fatal.  Other vaccines that may be recommended for your dog are Lyme Disease and Kennel Cough.  Dogs with a high exposure to ticks should receive the Lyme Vaccine.  Kennel Cough is required for dogs needing to stay at the clinic for any length of time, and for dogs who are groomed, visit the dog park, or hang out with other dogs (doggie daycare, traveling on vacation).   This spring and summer we have been vaccinating at risk dogs against the Canine Influenza as well.  Bloomington-Normal has had numerous positive cases, and we feel that dogs in Springfield may come into contact with dogs from that area, especially those visiting grooming and boarding facilities.

Feline Friends:  Sangamon County passed a law in 2012 that all cats are required to be vaccinated against Rabies.  In addition to Rabies Vaccine, we usually vaccinate against Feline Distemper.  For cats with exposure to Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), we recommend an annual booster for FeLV.  We offer a combination vaccine that contains both Feline Distemper and FeLV, in order to reduce the number of vaccines given per visit. 

Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own. 

Call us today, 217-529-4499, to get your pet’s vaccines up to date!