The Importance of Vaccines

At Royal York Animal Hospital, we believe it is our primary responsibility to keep your pet as healthy as possible which is why we recommend physical examinations and vaccination assessment on an annual basis. Our vaccination recommendations are based on your individual pet’s lifestyle and our community of Etobicoke’s risks. Once your pet enters their mature years, which for pets is around age 10 and depending on any ongoing health issues, we may recommend 6 month visits. We also highly recommend Wellness Blood screening at least every other year when your pet is younger and annually when they reach 10 years of age. Our wellness and vaccination programs are designed to prevent diseases and prolong the lives of your pet.

Vaccinations offer a high degree of protection against common disease. Our vets use their expertise to determine which vaccines are required on an individual pet basis. This decision is based on a balance among disease incidence and severity, vaccine efficacy and safety, and the health, welfare, and lifestyle of the individual pet. Vaccines need to be assessed on a yearly basis. A lapse in certain vaccinations can pose a safety risk not only to your pet and other pets but also to your family and anyone else who may handle your pet. For these reasons, please be advised that your pet must be vaccinated upon admission to the hospital for boarding and grooming if immunization has lapsed. Our vets would be happy to discuss the most current information on vaccination protocols with you, based on your pet’s individual situation.

Just because your pet “seems fine” does not always mean that he is healthy. Regular veterinary checkups and blood tests are very important. We are often able to detect disease early with Wellness Blood Screens. Early detection is important for disease control and ultimately longer and healthier lives for your pets. We have diagnosed a significant number of pets with early stages of diabetes, kidney, and liver disease with our Wellness blood Screen.

Dr. John Allen