Adding a pet to your home is an exciting step for many individuals, couples, and families. Dogs and cats provide companionship and comfort to people everywhere, and in return, they receive food, shelter, and healthcare from their loving owners. One of the most important parts of keeping pets healthy is vaccinating them against illness and disease. Staying up to date on rabies vaccines in Mandeville is one of the best ways to safeguard your pet.
Rabies is a dangerous virus that impacts mammals, transferring easily between animals and from animals to humans. Because cats and dogs live in such close proximity to humans, vaccinating pets is crucial for animal and human well-being. VetNaturally provides high-quality pet care, including rabies vaccines for cats and dogs. Call (985) 718- 9991 to schedule an appointment if you are looking for Mandeville rabies immunization.
Why Your Pet Needs a Rabies Vaccine
In many states, counties, and cities, pet dogs and cats are legally required to have rabies vaccines. However, dogs and cats can still get rabies, usually from wild animals. In fact, almost all recent cases of rabies in pets involved transmission from wildlife like skunks, raccoons, and bats.
Once an animal contracts rabies, there is no treatment. This is why prevention is crucial, and all pet owners should ensure their cats and dogs receive rabies vaccines. Call our office today to schedule your pet for a rabies vaccine in Mandeville, LA.
Risks of Rabies
Without protection from vaccinations, rabies in animals is almost always fatal. However, you cannot determine whether a wild animal has rabies just by looking at it. If any wild animal has bitten your pet, you should immediately take them to a veterinarian as a proactive measure.
For animals who do display rabies symptoms, they can include:
- Excessive drooling
- High levels of aggression
- Excessive timidity
- Biting at imaginary objects
- Paralysis
If you see an animal displaying these symptoms, contact your local police department or animal control to file a report and request safe removal.
If a human contracts rabies, they must undergo intensive treatment. Veterinarians and those traveling to countries with high populations of rabid animals can ask their doctors about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Anyone bitten by a known or suspected infected animal should ask about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
While these measures are effective, prevention is the best medicine. Ensuring your pets are current with their vaccines is one of the most impactful ways to mitigate the spread of rabies and the need for humans to undergo rabies treatments.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects
You may be worried about side effects if you plan to vaccinate your pet for rabies. While this is natural, the good news is that these are mild and greatly outweigh the negatives of a rabies infection. For dogs and cats, side effects might include lethargy, mild loss of appetite, and temporary swelling or soreness at the injection site.
If you notice any more serious side effects, like difficulty breathing, hives, or fainting, take your pet to receive emergency veterinary care as soon as possible. While such adverse reactions are rare, they require immediate intervention.
Rabies Vaccine Schedule
After an initial rabies vaccine, your cat or dog will need regular boosters. Depending on the type of vaccine, boosters will be required every year or every three years. Make sure you are following your veterinarian’s recommended rabies immunization schedule to ensure your pet is protected. At VetNaturally we will work with you to determine a safe and effective vaccine schedule tailored to your pet’s age and medical status.
Your Local, Experienced Veterinary Team
As a pet owner, keeping your pet safe is a top priority. Vaccinating your dogs and cats is the best way to protect them from contracting and dying from rabies. If you are looking for a rabies vaccine in Mandeville, LA, reach out to the experienced veterinary team at VetNaturally. Our veterinarians, available at (985) 718-9991, are experts in vaccine safety and will do all they can to keep your pet happy, healthy, and safe with the proper prevention and treatment.
