PHONE (336) 765-3974 ·
FAX (336) 765-2789
Brad Craig, Jr., D.V.M. Katherine
Miller, D.V.M. Christian Anderson, D.V.M.
Open Letter to
With the summer season here, many of us are off
traveling. When our pets remain behind
and a pet sitter cannot be found, many pets must stay in a boarding kennel. It
is very important to review your pet’s vaccinations before leaving them in a
kennel. We are happy to review this information
with you.
Many things about the vaccination of pets have changed in
recent years. These include: type of vaccine, frequency of vaccine, and
even where on the body the vaccine is given.
(The latter consideration is especially important in cats due to the
emergence of vaccine-associated sarcomas in a small proportion of
animals.) Your pet may or may not need
to be boosted on a yearly basis. Some
people choose to check the level of their pet’s immunity with vaccine titers
(pronounced “tie′-ters). These
tests check for protective levels of antibody from previous vaccinations. Based on that level and your vet’s
recommendation, one can make a decision whether a vaccination is
necessary. Also, vaccine reactions,
although infrequent, can occur, and your pet should be monitored for any
adverse effects. For these reasons we
recommend that you review vaccination history prior to kenneling and
have vaccinations administered by a veterinary professional.
Remember, too, that immunity after vaccination takes days to
develop and vaccines may place stress on your pet’s immune system. It is not a good idea to have vaccinations
administered at the time your pet enters the kennel. Receiving a vaccine as your pet enters a
boarding facility will not protect your pet immediately. This is especially important when considering
vaccination for Bordetella, better known as “kennel cough.” We recommend that vaccinations be given 10 to
14 days prior to boarding.
So please, before your summer trips, make an appointment or
call to check on your pet’s vaccination status.
We will gladly review this for you and make suggestions as to what needs
to be done.