Like the decision of whether or not to vaccinate your children, pet vaccination is a very hot topic right now. By law, all pets must receive the rabies vaccine. However, whether or not to vaccinate animals besides that is up to the pet owner. There are many different types of vaccinations that can be given to pets, but not every vaccination should be given to every pet.  A number of factors play into the controversy, all of which are important in their own right.

Location

Depending on where you live in the country there are different vaccinations that should be given to your animal.  For example, if you live in Connecticut or the surrounding states in New England, Lyme disease would be a huge factor for your pets since ticks are very prevalent.  If you live in the west, you would probably not need to vaccinate against Lyme disease, though other diseases may be more of a risk factor. Check with your local veterinarian to know what diseases are prevalent in your area.

Age  

Some vaccinations may be overwhelming for very young animals. This is due to the fact that live vaccinations have a small amount of the disease within them that are injected into the animal. If you pet's immune system is too new to fight it off, it could get very sick.  Again, checking with your local veterinarian would allow pet owners to know exactly what vaccinations should be given to their animal and at what age it would be most appropriate.

Lifestyle  

The lifestyle of an animal is greatly affected by its owners perspective. For example, owners that take their pets on cross-country trips and let their animals interact with other people's pets will likely want to vaccinate their pets more than an animal that just stays inside all day.  Another factor of lifestyle is how many animals an owner allows into their home. For those people who can't turn away a stray animal, they will want to vaccinate more than someone who only has one pet at a time.

In conclusion, it is very important to ponder how your animal will be affected by vaccinations. Is the risk greater than the benefit, or does the level of protection outweigh the cost? Check with your local veterinarian to know the specifics of disease in your area and possible vaccinations for your animal. In the end, the most important factor is that you are striving to protect your pet and give them the best life possible within your care.

Talk to a business like Apple Valley Animal Hospital for more details.