Only a veterinarian can assess the health status of the animals, also taking into account other circumstances such as the type of vaccination to establish a correct vaccination and deworming schedule and other circumstances necessary to obtain a correct protection against diseases.
Vaccination of puppies is particularly important for the health and welfare of these animals. It should therefore be required as a commitment to responsible ownership. Puppies, as is the case with babies and children in human medicine, are particularly susceptible to various diseases, and ensuring an adequate vaccination schedule at this stage of our pets' lives is essential. In this way we can avoid the appearance of diseases such as parvovirus, distemper or feline panleukopenia, which can cause serious suffering to the animals, and can even be fatal on many occasions. The timing of vaccination is important because the maternal antibodies that the mother has transmitted both through the placenta and fundamentally with the colostrum, which is the first milk enriched with antibodies, diminish after birth, but if this is done prematurely, maternal immunity can interfere with the vaccine and, if we vaccinate too late, the animal will be unprotected for a certain period of time. We should consult our vet who will indicate the correct schedule.
Vaccination consists of the inoculation of a substance (killed or attenuated micro-organism or fraction of a virus, etc.), to which the organism reacts by creating defences (antibodies).
The vaccination protocol may vary depending on the animal's history, type of vaccines, habits, geographical area in which the animal lives, etc. For this reason, when a person becomes the owner of an animal, they should go to the vet, who is the only professional qualified to guide them in terms of the health care required for their pet.
Currently in the Valencian Community the only compulsory vaccination is the rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets, according to the Law 2/2023of 13 March, in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Order 3/16, of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development.
The veterinarian shall check the identification and registration of the animal in RIVIA and the completion of the passport.
The vaccine shall be administered before the animal is sixteen weeks old if it is more than twelve weeks old.
A subsequent revaccination with a booster dose shall be carried out one year after the first vaccination.
Thereafter, vaccination shall be compulsory as prescribed in the technical specifications of the last dose administered referring to the marketing authorisation in the Member State or the approval or licence in a territory or third country.
In addition, deworming of dogs, cats and ferrets against echinococcosis is compulsory. This shall be done under the prescription of a veterinarian. Deworming shall be carried out by an authorised veterinarian. at least once a year, and recorded in the animal's health documentation.
In the case of dogs, the veterinarian shall check the identification and registration of the animal in RIVIA and the completion of the passport. For other species, it shall be the health booklet.
The rest of the vaccinations and deworming treatments available for dogs and cats are not compulsory, but they are recommended, as our animals live with us and their health has a direct impact on our own, and we must not forget that maintaining an adequate health status for our pets is part of responsible pet ownership.
For any questions about the vaccination of your pet, please contact us without obligation, we are your veterinary specialists in Benissa (Alicante).
Remember that prevention is always better than cure.
