Vaccinations are an important part of your pet's health care regimen. Some, such as rabies, have yearly boosters required by some states, with a revaccination every few years. However, within the veterinary community, there has been some discussion about how often vaccinations should be given, with the belief that some vaccines should be given more often than others.
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Initial Vaccinations
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Puppies and kittens are given a series of vaccinations about three to four weeks apart until they are four months old.
Yearly Boosters
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Distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and rabies are usually given yearly boosters, and your pet should be revaccinated every three years.
Titers
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Titers are a blood test that shows how much antibodies are in the pet's bloodstream at a time. This can show whether a pet needs a booster or if the booster can be put off until a later date, which slows the development of resistance to the disease and reduces the pet's risk of side effects.
Other Vaccinations
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If you live in areas of the country with high incidences of diseases such as Lyme disease, you should vaccinate against these diseases right before the risk of contracting the disease rises.
Bordetella
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You may also want to vaccinate against bordetella, or kennel cough, annually if your pet travels often.
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