Pet Vaccinations in Collin County, TX

Vaccinations provide the best defense against many potentially fatal diseases. With their advent, both the human medicine and veterinary medicine worlds saw a revolution in the ability to prevent millions of deaths that could have been caused by contagious diseases.

Vaccinations prevent disease by exposing the immune system to a small, safe, and controlled dose of the particular threat. This gives the immune system the opportunity to produce antigens that can fight the disease. If the pet is ever exposed to the disease again after vaccination, the immune system will be prepared after previously going through a similar experience.

At Highlands-Eldorado Veterinary Hospital, our North Texas veterinarians carefully research the most effective vaccine protocol for our patients, taking into mind the risk of exposure to various diseases in the McKinney, Texa area.

Our doctors have designed a list of core vaccinations, that is, vaccinations we recommend for all pets.

• Canines: Rabies*, Distemper, Hepatitis, and Parvovirus
• Felines: Rabies*, Rhinotracheitis, Feline Distemper, and Calicivirus

In addition to these core vaccinations, our McKinney veterinary clinic may recommend the following non-core vaccinations based on the pet’s lifestyle, risk of exposure, and health status.

• Canines: Bordetella, Canine Influenza, Rattlesnake Vaccine, and Leptospirosis
• Felines: Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

*Although pet owners have the right to decline recommended vaccinations, we must assert that the Rabies vaccination is regulated by law, thanks to its ability to save both animal and human lives.

In recent years, some pet owners have become concerned about the potential risk of over-vaccination or complications with vaccination. Our pet doctors firmly believe that vaccinations are safe, and the benefits of preventing life-threatening diseases dwarf the small risk of a bad reaction. Harmful reactions to vaccinations affect a tiny percentage of those pets who receive them. If you notice your pet seems very ill (vomiting, diarrhea, seizures) following vaccination, please do not hesitate to call us right away.

To prevent over-vaccination and to ensure our patients receive only vaccines that are beneficial to their health, we will use serum antibody titers when appropriate. A titer is a blood test that reveals the level of antibodies the pet has formed against certain viruses. This way, if the titer measures high enough antibody levels, the pet will not receive those vaccinations and can avoid potential adverse reactions.