Dr. Thomas Lenarduzzi, associate clinical professor at MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, said there are three essential ways to show appreciation and love for a pet. These are vaccinating and deworming the pets, providing nutritional food and adequate water, and spaying or neutering those not intended for breeding. After the puppy or kitten series, they should continue seeing a veterinarian on an annual basis for a check-up and booster shots. Canine distemper, canine infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, parvovirus and rabies are all preventable. Lenarduzzi said cats are becoming more important nationally and are exceeding dog ownership for the first time.
Cats appeal to an increasing urban population because they require less space than many dogs.
Vaccines are available to reduce the risk of feline leukemia in healthy cats, but there are no vaccines or cures for the feline immunodeficiency virus. Horses are a popular pet in Mississippi. Failure of passive transfer is readily correctable, but untreated foals often succumb to overwhelming infections. Vaccinations for horses prevent serious illnesses such as influenza and deadly diseases such as equine encephalomyelitis and tetanus. Flu and Rhino virus shots are necessary every three months for show horses and horses who encounter other horses frequently.