Pet Vaccines 101: Parvo, Distemper, Lepto, Lyme & More - The Dr. Molly Says Podcast | Lyssna här

This week on Dr. Molly Says, we’re going to vet school! Well… kind of lol.

We’re doing a Vet School for Pet Owners episode because I firmly believe educated pet parents are the best pet parents, and today, we’re talking about something that every dog and cat owner has probably dealt with at some point: vaccines.

I’m breaking down the diseases we vaccinate our pets against, what those diseases actually do, and why your veterinarian recommends the vaccines they do. Because “your dog needs the distemper combo” is helpful information… but knowing what that vaccine is actually protecting your dog from? Even better.

We get into:

What the infamous distemper/parvo combo actually protects dogs from
Why distemper can be so devastating, including the neurologic form that can show up weeks or months later
Why parvo is basically the absolute worst and why it’s so incredibly contagious
What leptospirosis is, why it’s now considered a core vaccine for dogs, and why it’s not just a “farm dog” disease
The truth about the kennel cough vaccines (and why they don't necessarily prevent every single cough)
Canine influenza, Lyme disease, and which dogs may benefit from those vaccines
The vaccines cats need, including herpesvirus, calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia
Why feline leukemia vaccination is especially important for outdoor cats
Why some vaccines are recommended every year while others can be given every three years

Basically, if you’ve ever sat in your veterinarian’s office and thought, “Okay, but what exactly are you vaccinating my pet AGAINST?” - THIS episode is for you.

LOVE YOU GUYS 💛

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome y’all!!

00:52 Why Pet Owners Should Understand Vaccines

02:01 Dog Vaccines: What Are We Protecting Against?

02:25 Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza & Parvo

03:28 Canine Distemper

08:59 Adenovirus

11:21 Parvovirus

17:00 Parainfluenza & Kennel Cough

8:57 Dog Core Vaccine Schedule

19:41 Leptospirosis