Arlington Veterinarian Strongly Endorses Vaccinations for Preventative Pet Care

Preventative pet care is always wiser than awaiting the onset of dangerous illness. Experienced Arlington veterinarian, Dr. Tim Cavanagh, is a strong believer in prevention. Since 1981, Dr. Cavanagh has been preventing, treating and curing pet diseases for our area neighbors. All Creatures Veterinary Services recommends all appropriate vaccinations for puppies, kittens, mature pets, and a variety of other companion and farm animals.

For example, newborn puppies are not naturally immune to most diseases, but they do "inherit" some antibody protection from their mother's blood received from her placenta while they were incubating. These new additions to your family also receive more antibodies from their mother's immediate milk production.


Of course, puppies can only enjoy antibodies for diseases for which the mother was timely vaccinated. Should the puppy's mother not receive all recommended vaccinations, she cannot pass along protection to her newborn. This is an example of the overwhelming importance of following the schedule of routine vaccinations.

Preventative Newborn Pet Care Focuses on Vaccinations Necessary During the "Window of Susceptibility"

Newborns who receive strong levels of maternal antibodies can enjoy natural immunization for different periods, typically from several days to several weeks. High levels of active antibodies reduce or, even, block the protective effects of effective vaccines during this period.

Therefore, unless your Arlington veterinarian has thorough knowledge of the health record of the animal's mother, the doctor faces an immunization "guessing game." If you have rescued your puppy or kitten from a pet mill, your vet's challenges increase as many mothers receive little or no protective immunizations.

This period of not knowing is often called the window of susceptibility, as the newborn may or may not be immune to dangerous diseases. There is little point in vaccinating the newborn if maternal antibodies are high, as the vaccine will not work. Medical studies of puppies indicate that only 25 percent of six-week olds can be successfully immunized. By 16 weeks, the vaccines would work on 60 percent of puppies. Not until 18 weeks of age are 95 percent of puppies protected.

Most veterinary professionals recommend that puppies and kittens need at least three combination vaccinations during the window of susceptibility and this series should be repeated around their first birthday. The first important series should be administered early if the pet care professional follows up with regular boosters up to 16 to18 weeks of age. This is one strategic plan that minimizes the window of susceptibility to disease.

Arlington pet owners have depended on our veterinarian and clinic professionals for 30 years to defend their treasured pets, using high quality skill, training and experience. Minimizing your pet's susceptibility to dangerous diseases, such as rabies, distemper, parvovirus, CAV-2 for Hepatitis, has been a continuing focus of our practice.

Our Arlington veterinary clinic considers administering adult animal boosters on an annual or bi-annual regimen critical to quality pet care. Our deep love for all animals mandates that we protect your pets as we protect our own. Call us (360-435-8929) to learn why so many of your neighbors choose our clinic to protect their treasured pets.