When we adopt a pet, we take on the responsibility of providing that animal with a safe, healthy and loving home. An important part of that responsibility is making sure our pets receive appropriate veterinary care, including recommended vaccinations.
As part of the adoption process, Piatt County Animal Shelter reviews veterinary records for current and previous pets when those records are available. This helps us understand an applicant’s experience with routine veterinary care and provides an opportunity to discuss the ongoing responsibilities that come with pet ownership.
Our goal is to help adopters understand what their new pet will need to remain healthy and to help set both the animal and its new family up for success.
Why are vaccinations important?
Vaccines help protect pets from serious infectious diseases. They prepare the immune system to recognize and respond to specific diseases before an animal is exposed.
Veterinarians recommend certain core vaccines because they protect against diseases that can pose significant risks to dogs and cats. Other vaccines may be recommended based on an animal’s age, lifestyle, geographic location and potential exposure to other animals.
For cats, core vaccines include protection against feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and rabies. Feline panleukopenia can cause severe and sometimes fatal illness, particularly in kittens.
Vaccination is especially important in environments where many animals are housed together. Infectious diseases can spread quickly through shelters, foster homes and other multi-animal environments.
“But my cat stays indoors. Do they really need vaccinations?”
This is a common question, and it is understandable. If your cat never goes outside, you may wonder how they could be exposed to disease.
Indoor cats can still be exposed to infectious diseases, even though their risk may be lower than that of cats who go outdoors. Exposure can happen through other animals, contaminated environments or objects. There is also always the possibility that an indoor cat could accidentally get outside or encounter another animal.
An indoor cat may also need protection because some diseases can be particularly serious when an unvaccinated animal is exposed.
That does not mean every cat needs every available vaccine on the same schedule. Vaccination recommendations should be based on the individual cat’s age, health, lifestyle and potential exposure risks. Your veterinarian can help determine which vaccines are appropriate for your cat.
What if my pet is behind on vaccinations?
Being behind on veterinary care does not necessarily mean someone is a bad pet owner. There are many reasons an animal’s veterinary care may have fallen behind, and sometimes people simply have not been given enough information about what their pets need.
The important thing is what happens next.
If your pet is overdue for vaccinations or has not seen a veterinarian recently, schedule an appointment. Your veterinarian can review your pet’s history, discuss their individual needs and recommend an appropriate plan to bring their preventive care up to date.
This is also something we encourage prospective adopters to consider before bringing a new animal into their home. If you already have pets, making sure they are receiving appropriate veterinary care can help protect them as well as any new pet you bring home.
Veterinary care is about more than vaccinations
Vaccinations are only one part of responsible pet ownership. Routine veterinary care also provides opportunities to address parasite prevention, dental health, nutrition, weight, behavior, spay/neuter and other health concerns.
Veterinary records can provide useful information about an applicant’s experience with routine pet care. They can also provide an opportunity to identify situations where additional education or follow-up may be helpful.
Our goal is healthy, successful adoptions
Adopting an animal is a long-term commitment. Before bringing a new pet home, it is important to consider the veterinary care, preventive care and other ongoing needs that come with that commitment.
If your current pets are behind on vaccinations or routine veterinary care, talk with your veterinarian about getting them caught up. If you are considering adoption, being prepared to provide appropriate veterinary care for your new pet is an important part of giving that animal the best possible start in its new home.
A healthy pet is a happier pet, and preventive care is one of the best ways we can help the animals who depend on us.
