Vaccines help teach your pet’s immune system how to recognize and fight off certain disease-causing agents. Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system's production of antibodies that identify and destroy these agents—before they can cause disease. This helps prevent or lessen the severity of future disease.

Vaccinations protect your pet from highly contagious and/or deadly diseases and improve your pet's overall quality of life. Experts agree that widespread use of vaccinations within the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals.

• Vaccination prevents many pet illnesses.

• Vaccination can help avoid costly treatments for preventable diseases.

• Vaccination prevents diseases that can be passed between animals and from animals to people.

• Unvaccinated pets are at risk from life-threatening diseases found in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper.

• Reputable pet boarding, daycare, and training services require vaccination against certain diseases to protect all participating animals.

• Many local and state laws require that household pets—including indoor-only pets—be vaccinated against certain diseases.