So, you've brought home a perky little puppy or kitten, feeling confident that your new best friend is quite healthy after its initial round of vet-administered pet vaccines. But just as you wouldn't expect your childhood vaccinations to last forever, neither will your pet's. Ultimately, the key to a healthy, long life for your dog or cat is responsible pet ownership, awareness, and a yearly round of preventative pet vaccines.

The types of pet vaccines that dogs and cats get are for a variety of different diseases; of course, some viruses are shared between the species, such as rabies. Preventing these diseases with annual pet vaccines and an ounce of responsible pet ownership is much cheaper than any treatment would cost to make your pet healthy once again. Normally, the initial rabies vaccination occurs when the pet is four months or older, and the others follow when the dog or cat is at least six months old. Below are some of the more common diseases that afflict pets and what they can do to your favorite companion. Remember that, above all, your new best friend is relying on you to keep him healthy and practicing responsible pet ownership is ultimately up to you!

The Agonizing Effects of Rabies

Rabies is ultimately fatal, and the law requires that you vaccinate your pets against this highly contagious disease. Contracted by saliva, this viral disease can be spread to humans, as well as anyone or anything that the cat or dog bites. The infection spreads through the nerve tissue and eventually into the brain. An animal with rabies will be stiff and unable to swallow in the early stages of the disease. Towards the end, the animal become sensitive to noise and movement and will often strike out to attack anything that moves in its path.

If you live in a wooded area or in a part of town with a high population of bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks, there is a higher chance that your cat or dog can become infected without the proper pet vaccines. Once infected, however, it's too late. There is no cure for rabies in cats or dogs - just remember that a simple measure of responsible pet ownership goes a long way.

Other Common Feline Diseases

• Chlamydia, Calici, and Rhinotracheitis: All three are common upper respiratory diseases. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, a runny nose and eyes, and fatigue, all of which are similar to our common cold, and all three have the potential to be spread to humans. If the cat does not die from Rhinotracheitis, it will most surely suffer with problems for the rest of its life. The usual course of medication is antibiotics and a round of preventative pet vaccines for the future.
  
  
• Feline Leukemia/Immunodeficiency Virus: Commonly but incorrectly referred to as Cat Aids, humans are unable to catch FeLV (Feline Leukemia) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Spread through blood and saliva, both diseases weaken and then shut down the immune system. At this time, there are no reliable pet vaccines, but there are preventative measures - mainly stemming from responsible pet ownership.

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