Most pet owners aren’t aware of the vaccinations that their dog or cat need. Even when they take their animal to the vet, they tend not to have all of the vaccinations given, simply because the information is new to them. Most pet owners do not hesitate to have their animals vaccinated against rabies, since rabies is a well-known disease. It is sometimes more difficult to convince owners to have other vaccinations done, simply because they are not educated about other diseases.

My job today is to let you know what diseases out there threaten your dog or cat, and why vaccinating is so important.

Feline vaccinations are a must, especially if you plan let your cat go outside. There are a number of very contagious diseases that are spread from cat-to-cat contact, most of which can be prevented by vaccinating.

All cats are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies is a central nervous system disease that can be transferred to humans, which makes it especially dangerous. It is lethal to all animals and essential that your cat be vaccinated against it.

The city of Ames requires that your cat be vaccinated against distemper. Most “distemper” vaccinations are actually a combination of four or five vaccinations all in one shot. The viruses that are usually covered in this vaccination are: feline panleukopenia (distemper), rhinotracheitis and calicivirus. Distemper causes fever, vomiting and diarrhea, while rhinotracheitis and calicivirus are upper respiratory diseases.

Another vaccination available to you and your cat protects against the disease feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Wet FIP causes injury to the cat’s circulatory system, resulting in peritonitis, a swelling of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity). The kitty’s abdomen then fills with fluid, and causes difficulty in breathing. The end result of the disease is usually death.

Feline leukemia is a disease that can also be prevented by vaccinating your cat. This viral disease suppresses the cat’s immune system, allowing it to become more susceptible to diseases and infections that would normally be easily fought off by the feline immune system. Like all of the above diseases, leukemia cannot be cured, and almost always leads to the death of the cat.

It is possible to test your cat for feline leukemia. It is highly recommended that all owners have their cats tested. Vaccinating against the virus will not do any good with an already-infected cat. Knowing its health status will also help you provide the best care to prevent your cat from getting ill. It is also in the best interest of the rest of the feline population to keep an infected cat away from all other cats to prevent spreading the disease.

Most of these vaccinations must be boosted every year.

Like cat vaccinations, there are four vaccinations available to dogs. The canine rabies vaccination is also required by law. Many clinics have vaccinations for rabies that will last up to two or three years.

There is a canine distemper vaccination, also required by city ordinance. Just like the feline vaccination, many dog distemper shots are a combination of many vaccines in one. Most vaccinations protect against the following diseases: canine distemper (causing diarrhea, muscular twitches, and discharge from eyes and nose), hepatitis (results in liver damage, respiratory disease), leptospirosis (a bacteria attacks liver, kidney and other major organs), parvovirus and canine corona virus. Parvo and corona viruses attack the gastrointestinal tract and cause diarrhea and vomiting. The loss of fluids to puppies can be fatal. All of these diseases are spread rapidly and easily in unprotected dogs, especially puppies, and usually end in death.

Another vaccination protects against tracheobronchitis, an upper respiratory disease. This disease is often nicknamed “canine cough,” or “kennel cough,” because in situations where there are many dogs around, such as a kennel or dog show, the disease can be spread rapidly. Tracheobronchitis is usually not fatal, but it can be a nuisance to both dog and owner.

The fourth vaccination available to dog owners gives the dog protection against Lyme disease. Just like the deer tick can transmit the disease to humans, it can do the same to dogs. Several other ticks also carry the disease. If your dog will be outside quite a bit, especially during the summer, it is at risk for Lyme disease. The “good” thing about Lyme disease is that it is not contagious to between dogs.

An important thing to remember is that if your cat or dog does come down with one of the contagious diseases, keep it away from any other cats and dogs.

Some people claim that their reasons for not vaccinating is the price of the shots. While that is a valid point, if your pet was to contract one of these diseases, not only would the result probably be death, but the cost to try to save the animal would be much more than the vaccinations themselves. So my sage advice is vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate. Save your pet from all the evil diseases that threaten it.

Julie Scholes is a senior in zoology/pre-vet from Monterey, California.