Pet Vaccines 101: Parvo, Distemper, Lepto, Lyme & More

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 fromWhy distemper can be so devastating, including the neurologic form that can show up weeks or months laterWhy parvo is basically the absolute worst and why it’s so incredibly contagiousWhat leptospirosis is, why it’s now considered a core vaccine for dogs, and why it’s not just a “farm dog” diseaseThe 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 vaccinesThe vaccines cats need, including herpesvirus, calicivirus, and feline panleukopeniaWhy feline leukemia vaccination is especially important for outdoor catsWhy some vaccines are recommended every year while others can be given every three yearsBasically, 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 Vaccines02:01 Dog Vaccines: What Are We Protecting Against?02:25 Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza & Parvo03:28 Canine Distemper08:59 Adenovirus11:21 Parvovirus17:00 Parainfluenza & Kennel Cough8:57 Dog Core Vaccine Schedule19:41 Leptospirosis24:10 Bordetella & Kennel Cough26:01 Canine Influenza28:13 Lyme Disease30:07 Cat Vaccines30:42 Feline Herpesvirus33:21 Feline Calicivirus34:34 Feline Panleukopenia36:25 Feline Leukemia Virus 38:30 Final Thoughts & Vaccine Q&A---------------------------------------------------------------Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple:https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028---------------------------------------------------------------Follow Dr. Molly:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysaysTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysaysFollow the podcast:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod---------------------------------------------------------------