Effective vaccines can give you peace of mind when it comes to the good health of your pets. And in fact, many states and municipalities require proof of immunization for dogs and cats. Can you imagine encountering a rabid dog on your daily walk with Fido?

You get a reminder email, text, or postcard -- your dog or cat is due for a vaccine or two. Time to make an appointment! You arrive for a simple visit with your healthy pet, and then a Licensed Technician or even the doctor begins a full, thorough exam.

Over the past several years, veterinary professionals have paid a great deal of attention to pet vaccination protocols. With new vaccines and other developments, many veterinarians have updated their protocols as well. For example, some vaccines are now given every three years rather than annually. Of course, the vaccines given also depend on a particular pet’s risk and exposure.

We continually assess the need for the vaccines we recommend and tailor a vaccin e protocol around each pet’s individual lifestyle.

Because of the success of preventative measures in our corner of the globe, many people generally do not give a deadly illness like rabies much thought.

Sometimes it seem as if there’s a battery of vaccinations, especially if your cat is young and you may wonder if they’re all necessary.

Truth is, veterinarians generally divide cat vaccinations into “core” and “noncore” vaccines and the “core” ones are certainly needed as part of your cat’s health protocol. For example, the rabies vaccine is legally required around the country. Which is a good thing because you wouldn’t want your kitty facing a rabid creature -- at all, but certainly not without protection.