Vet says not giving pets vaccines can expose them to serious illnesses

Do pets really need vaccines? This question, which is causing controversy among pet owners, will be the focus of the workshop, Facts about Dog & Cat Vaccines on Thursday, January 21, 2016 as part of Pawsitively Healthy: An informative series for the health & wellbeing of your dog or cat being held at Pet Supplies Plus of White Lake.

The vaccine debate raises the question of whether or not vaccines are necessary for all dogs and cats, along with concerns about possible occasional side effects. According to Andrea Putt, DVM, of Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital who will speak at the workshop, dogs and cats need vaccines, but which ones they should get depends on the pet’s lifestyle and exposure to disease. In all cases, Putt says, vaccines prevent life-threatening disease.

“There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to vaccines,” Putt says. “Each pet is different based on where they live, go on walks, play and socialize. These lifestyle considerations tell us which vaccines are important for each pet. All pets need some level of vaccine protection.”

Putts says that pets should have an individualized vaccine plan that takes into account:

· Contact with other animals at home or at boarding / day care.

· Geographic location.

· Indoor vs. outdoor pets.

· Exposure to natural areas such as woods, bodies of water and fields.

Opting for no vaccines can be fatal to dogs that contract diseases like Leptospriosus, a bacteria found in urine that is becoming more prevalent in Oakland County; Lyme disease, which is most common in central and west Michigan; and rabies. All three diseases can be transmitted to humans. Unvaccinated dogs are also at risk of contracting other potentially life-threatening diseases such as canine Bordatella, Distemper and Parvovirus. Unvaccinated cats are at risk of contracting potentially fatal Feline Leukemia and Feline Distemper (Feline Panleukopenia virus).

In the Facts about Dog & Cat Vaccines workshop, Putt says that she hopes to help pet owners make informed decisions about vaccines. Putt says that some pet owners have concerns about vaccine side effects, however they are extremely rare, especially today with recent advancements in vaccine formulas and how they are administered.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there about vaccines,” Putt says. “For example, some people assume older pets do not need vaccines. This is not true. In fact, older pets are especially vulnerable.”

Pawsitively Healthy workshops are being held at Pet Supplies Plus in White Lake at 6845 Highland Rd. from 7 p.m.to 8 p.m. Upcoming topics include kidney disease, arthritis, thyroid disease and more.

Space is limited; advance registration required. Please remember to leave your pets at home. There is a $5 donation per workshop with all proceeds going to Elizabeth Lake Animal Rescue. To register and for more information, go to www.addyspsp.wordpress.com.