Mother's antibodies interfere with the vaccines we give. This is the reason that we vaccinate puppies and kittens every 2 to 3 weeks starting at 6 to 8 weeks of age and continuing until about 16 weeks of age. Orphaned animals or animals that could not nurse the mother are particularly susceptible to disease because they did not even receive any passive protection. They should be started on vaccinations between 4 and 6 weeks of age. During this critical period of 6 and 16 weeks of age your puppy or kitten is undergoing the stress of weaning, diet change, housebreaking, and moving to a new home.
Stress lowers one's resistance to disease.
Some areas, where there is a low incidence of rabies require vaccinating every 2 to 3 years. Because our area has a high incidence of rabies in wildlife, the l aw requires annual vaccinations. Vaccines work by activating your pet's immune system. Each injection introduces a carefully prepared agent, called an antigen , that is similar to the virus itself. Your pet's body recognizes this antigen as a foreign agent and his immune system makes antibodies, which are the bodies' protective agents, against the virus.