Why refusing vaccinations can cost a pet its life
Kyiv • UNN
Even indoor pets require vaccinations because owners bring infections in on their shoes. Modern vaccines are safe and prevent fatal diseases.
Pets that do not go outside can also catch dangerous infections, and the refusal to vaccinate is increasingly resulting in serious illnesses that could have been avoided. Veterinary doctor Yelyzaveta Babiy told a journalist from UNN why even "indoor" pets need vaccinations, how safe modern vaccines are, and why prevention is significantly more important than treatment.
Some pet owners postpone vaccinations for their furry friends. Some do so out of fear of side effects, while others are influenced by myths from social media or the conviction that "indoor pets don't need it." At the same time, vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to protect an animal from dangerous and sometimes even fatal diseases.
This is such an extensive topic that one could objectively lecture on it for hours. But in short, vaccination is simply too important right now. Especially considering what is happening with rabies and how many infections we have been seeing lately. And it alarms me greatly that owners are starting to treat vaccines worse than before,
According to Yelyzaveta Babiy, the trend of distrust toward vaccinations has noticeably intensified in recent years. As a result, veterinarians increasingly have to treat diseases that could have been avoided.
The more I work, the more I see that a much larger percentage of diseases today could have been simply prevented. And it is very sad. Because we are talking about things that can really be prevented with a single vaccination. This especially applies to viral infections and rabies. Unfortunately, many people only start to act when the animal is already seriously ill,
The doctor emphasizes that even indoor cats that haven't been outside for years cannot be considered completely isolated from risks, because owners can bring some infections or parasites home themselves.
Very often people say: "My cat doesn't leave the apartment, why does it need vaccinations or treatments?" But owners walk on the street, on the grass, on the ground where there may be worm eggs or other pathogens. Then all of this is brought home. The animal comes into contact with shoes, clothing, surfaces, and this is already more than enough for the risk of infection. Therefore, home isolation does not mean absolute protection,
Separately, Yelyzaveta Babiy drew attention to the fact that modern drugs and vaccines are significantly safer than they were decades ago. According to her, today manufacturers invest great resources not only in effectiveness but also in minimizing side reactions. That is why fears regarding "excessive burden on the body" are often exaggerated.
The market is very competitive now, and manufacturers are already competing not only in effectiveness but also in the safety of the drugs. Side effects in animals occur much less frequently than people imagine. But the risks from a lack of prevention are much higher. Especially when it comes to animals that regularly walk outside or come into contact with other animals,
At the same time, the doctor advises pet owners not to select medications on their own based on advice from the internet. According to her, the vaccination and treatment schedule depends on the animal's age, living conditions, and even the region of residence; owners of puppies and kittens must be especially careful, as a young organism is more vulnerable to infections.
For small animals, there may even be recommendations for treatments almost every two weeks, because they are actively exploring the world and putting everything in their mouths. They do not yet have a strong enough immune response to effectively fight pathogens. And adult animals, even indoor ones, still need regular preventive treatments and vaccination. This is the basic responsibility of the owner,
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