Why do puppies and kittens require numerous vaccinations?
Immediately after an animal is born they begin to nurse milk from their mother. During the first 24 hours of a new baby’s life, the mother produces a special kind of milk called colostrum. The colostrum has many of the mother’s own antibodies, which the baby absorbs directly into its blood. These antibodies protect the puppy or kitten from disease until the he can begin to produce his own antibodies. Unfortunately, these antibodies do not last very long and can keep a vaccine from being effective. These maternal antibodies gradually decrease during the first few months of the puppy’s life. Consequently, puppies and kittens are given a series of vaccinations until they are approximately 16 weeks of age. If you’re not sure how old your pet is, we look for them to get their first adult teeth, which occurs reliably around 16 weeks of age, letting us know that it’s OK to finish the vaccine series. The maternal antibodies may interfere with a pet’s early vaccination. By vaccinating more freq
