It is necessary to vaccinate dogs and cats – but many people cheat

Dog owners are more careful about vaccinating their animals than cat owners. But why don’t all pet owners believe that vaccinations are valuable? A poll showed that some people think it is not necessary to vaccinate, while others simply forget to take their dog or cat to the vet. A smaller group of pet owners consider themselves unable to afford it. Agria veterinarian Lotta Müller explains the importance of vaccination.

Many, but not everyone, choose to vaccinate their pets. Nine out of ten dog owners vaccinate their dogs with the full vaccination program according to current recommendations, while three out of ten cat owners skip the recommendation. It is important to remember the overall purpose of vaccinations – to improve the animal’s well-being. Vaccinating your animal is an effort for the health of all animals, not just yours.

– Today, diseases such as tuberculosis and fever have become rare in our country, thanks to the fact that most people vaccinate their pets. Not vaccinating is opening the door to deadly diseases that can cause significant and unnecessary suffering among cats and dogs, especially vulnerable young animals. It is important to vaccinate according to current recommendations to obtain adequate protection. says Lotta Müller, veterinarian at Agria.

Vaccines are medicine that are being developed and updated. Therefore, recommendations can vary and change depending on the vaccine, the age of the animal, and the needs of the environment in which the animal is located. There may be special requirements when participating in an exhibition, for example.For animals that go abroad or are imported from abroad, more vaccinations are added, such as rabies. There are also times when vaccination is less appropriate, such as during pregnancy or when the general condition weakens. Therefore, discuss your animal’s needs with your veterinarian. Vaccines do not usually provide 100% protection against the disease but they do help relieve symptoms if the animal becomes infected.

In Sweden, there are recommendations for the vaccine produced in cooperation between Statens Veterinärmedicinska Anstalt (SVA) and Sweden Veterinary Medicine Association For dogs and cats. The risk of vaccinating is small compared to the risks of not doing so. Despite this, many pet owners say they forget to vaccinate or simply don’t think it’s necessary, while a smaller group of pet owners, especially dog ​​owners, say they can’t afford it.

Basic vaccination for dogs
Dogs that have been primarily vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus are safely protected. The primary vaccine is taken at approximately 7-8 weeks of age. When your puppy is 12 weeks old, it is time to increase the dose, and then a new dose is recommended at 1 year of age. The dog is then vaccinated every three years. Veterinarians also often recommend vaccination against kennel cough. For dogs insured with Agria, kennel cough vaccination is included in one of the insurances.

Basic vaccinations for cats
To prevent your cat from becoming ill, it must be vaccinated against cat distemper and cat distemper according to the SVA recommendation. Primary vaccination against kitten distemper is usually done when the kitten is kitten at 8-9 weeks of age and after 3-4 weeks. Additional vaccination is done at the age of one year. It is common to vaccinate every three years against cat fever and annually against cat fever.

This is how pet owners responded to the survey*:

• 71% of cat owners vaccinate their cat according to current recommendations
• 89% of dog owners vaccinate their dogs according to current recommendations
• 36% of those who did not vaccinate their pets said they forgot to do so
• 38% believe it is not necessary to vaccinate their pets
• 21% of dog owners and 9% of cat owners believe that they cannot afford it

*Material is based on a survey of 800 dog and cat owners conducted by Xteme on behalf of Agria in 2023.