Vaccines for humans have led to many medical breakthroughs that have reduced and even eliminated certain diseases, and pet vaccines have been responsible for similar triumphs in veterinary medicine. Vaccines have been developed to protect pets against rabies, heartworm, and other diseases that are known to affect dogs and cats along with some other animals. If you want to keep your pet's health protected as much as possible, you should make yourself aware of these four pet vaccination facts.

1. Vaccines should be started at an early age.

To give your pet the best start in life, you'll want to start the pet vaccination routine early. Puppies and kittens can often start receiving vaccines as early as six weeks old, and your pet's veterinarian will let you know about the specific vaccines that are advised if you have a young pet. It's generally best not to vaccinate pets that are younger than six weeks old, as this may lead to health complications.

2. Booster shots are usually needed.

After the initial shot or after multiple doses have been given to immunize your pet initially, you'll likely need to bring your pet back to the vet for future booster shots. Certain vaccines, such as the ones that protect against rabies, canine influenza, and Lyme disease, often require a once-a-year booster shot to keep pets immunized. Other vaccines require boosters every six months or every few years to still provide protection. 

3. Vaccines are usually safe for older pets.

If you're worried that a pet vaccination will be harmful to a pet that's old, you can rest assured that all approved vaccines are usually safe for older animals. The vet can review the pet vaccination schedule and go over your pet's medical history to determine if a particular vaccine is safe for your older pet. Vets also take special measures to ensure that older pets aren't over-vaccinated or given vaccines that may have caused harmful allergic reactions in the past.

4. Measures can be taken to minimize pain from injections.

Your pet will likely feel a slight pinch or sting when a vaccine is injected, but some pets handle pain better than others. If you're worried that your pet won't respond well to the pain from an injection, you can ask the vet if a pain medication that's safe for pets can be used beforehand. You can also reduce any pain that your pet might be feeling after getting their shots by applying a cold compress to the injection sites to try to numb away the discomfort.

All responsible pet owners should prioritize getting their pets vaccinated and stay on top of their pet vaccination schedules. A qualified veterinarian can give you more information on what to expect with pet vaccinations and answer any other questions to help you expand your pet vaccination knowledge. 

Contact a company like Elemental Pet Vets for more information.