When Do Kittens Need Distemper Shots

Kitties need several immunizations during their first year to protect them against serious diseases.

When do kittens need distemper shots. Types of vaccines for kittens. These vaccines help protect against upper respiratory diseases herpes and fatal viruses. Here s everything you need to know about the distemper vaccine and why it s important. Begin as early as six weeks of age and then every three to four weeks until 16 weeks of age.

When a kitten is at least 3 months old he will need to get a rabies shot. Distemper vaccination should occur after your cat has reached 3 months of age. Kittens are vaccinated once every three to four weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age or older. When kittens are nursing antibodies in their mother s milk help protect them from infections.

There is no way to be certain if a kitten still has maternal antibodies so boosters are necessary. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4. After that they ll only need annual boosters. Do cats and dogs need a distemper vaccine.

A mother s colostrum or first milk may provide adequate immunization for the first 4 months of a kitten s life. But after about six weeks old and eating solid food it s time for them to be vaccinated. Adults or kittens older than 16 weeks of age vaccinated for the first time should receive two doses three to four weeks apart. True immunity is uncertain until about 16 to 18 weeks of age or until all kitten boosters are completed.

Avoid exposing your kitten to unknown animals until all vaccinations have been given. Because babies are so vulnerable to distemper your vet vaccinates your kitten with the fvrcp vaccine for the first time between the ages of 6 to 8 weeks with another shot every three to four weeks until your kitten is 4 months old. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old. A single dose is given one year following the last dose of the initial series and then every three years.

However to avoid over vaccination most veterinarians will recommend starting the vaccine at 8 weeks of age followed by boosters at 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. Kittens should receive this shot at 6 8 weeks because they are very vulnerable to calicivirus and distemper. Then they must be boostered a year latyer.