What Is My Pet Actually Vaccinated For? A Vet’s Guide to Understanding: Keeping Your Dog and Cat Protected

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly doing the right thing for your pet when it comes to vaccinations, you’re not alone.

Vaccinations can feel complicated, and often protocols vary between clinics. And with some vaccines being injected, and others going on the gums or even up the nose, it’s hard to make heads or tails of it.

But, at the end of the day, vaccination still remains the simplest, most powerful way to protect your pet from preventable infectious disease.

And when done yearly, your pet’s annual vaccination visit becomes an essential health checkpoint that keeps them safer, happier, and healthier for longer.

Why Vaccinations Still Matter

Vaccines aren’t a “set-and-forget” thing. Immunity fades over time, and without boosters, pets can become vulnerable again—even if they were fully protected as puppies or kittens.

In Victoria, most veterinary clinics, including Vetland Hospital & Emergency, follow core vaccination guidelines that protect against the most dangerous and widespread infectious diseases.

For dogs, the core vaccine is the C5, which includes:

• Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Parvovirus
• Two strains of kennel cough (Bordetella & Parainfluenza)
  
  

For cats, the standard F3 vaccine protects against:

• Feline rhinotracheitis (‘cat flu’)
• Calicivirus (‘cat flu’)
• Panleukopenia

These foundational vaccines protect against illnesses that are still present in our communities—and some can be fatal within days.






When Non-Core Vaccines Become Essential

Your pet’s lifestyle matters. Their risks matter. And that’s where non-core vaccines play a vital role.

For Cats: FIV Vaccination

If being outdoors is an integral part of your cat’s lifestyle, you should enquire with your vet about FIV vaccination. FIV is the feline equivalent of HIV in people, and can make cats extremely vulnerable and unwell.

It is unfortunately easily spread through fighting. The vaccination offers protection against some of the strains of this nasty virus.

For Dogs: Leptospirosis Vaccination

If your dog is sharing an environment that may be contaminated by rats and mice, especially where there may be stagnant water, they may be at risk of leptospirosis.

Think local parklands, puddles, drains or bushy walking trails. The leptospirosis vaccine does not cover every strain, but protecting against the most common ones is still enormously valuable.

Leptospirosis is a nasty disease that often presents with vague and mild symptoms; once they progress to serious symptoms, it is often too late.

Why Annual Vaccination Visits Matter More Than You Think

Your vaccination appointment isn’t just about the vaccine. It’s a full health check every single year by a veterinarian who is looking to be the voice for your pet - to communicate to you what they are unable to.

Routine health checks are an opportunity to pick up early-stage disease, commonly:

• Early kidney or liver changes
• Skin abnormalities
• Heart murmurs
• Weight shifts
• Dental disease
• Early arthritis
• Thyroid concerns

Catching these conditions early gives us a far better chance of managing them successfully—giving your pet the long and happy life they deserve.

Our Senior Vaccination Campaign: Because Early Detection Saves Lives

For pets 7 years or older, every annual checkup and vaccination at Vetland Hospital & Emergency now includes a complimentary blood test.

These tests screen for:

• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Pancreatic changes
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disorders
• Blood abnormalities

Often, these conditions begin silently. A quick blood test can reveal what your pet can’t tell you—and give you the chance to act early.

Titre Testing: A Thoughtful Alternative

If you’re unsure whether your pet truly needs a booster, titre testing can measure their antibody levels.

It’s a safe and evidence-based way to determine whether your pet is still protected or genuinely needs a vaccine.

This approach is especially helpful for senior pets and those with past vaccine reactions, and simply involves a blood test.

Give Your Pet the Best Chance at a Longer, Healthier Life

Vaccines save lives. Check-ups catch the quiet things. And senior blood testing gives older pets the gift of early detection.

Because every extra healthy year with them is worth everything.