Association says vaccines helped reduce rabies, other pet diseases

Not only are some parents refusing to vaccinate their kids, some pet owners are turning down vaccinations for Fido and Mittens, and one association warns that could have serious consequences for the health of the nation's pets.

The American Veterinary Medical Association issued a strong statement Wednesday in support of pet vaccinations. It noted that vaccinations are the primary reason why the U.S. has eliminated the domestic dog variant of rabies. Vaccinations also are why many deadly pet diseases are less common today than they once were, it added.

"Unvaccinated pets are not only at risk themselves, but pose a threat to other animals, including young pets that have not yet received their full series of vaccines and thus are not fully protected, or those individuals that can't be vaccinated due to preexisting health issues," AVMA board president Ted Cohn said. "Vaccinating your pets helps to keep them safe from serious preventable diseases, while also protecting the health and well-being of these vulnerable populations."

The anti-vaccination movement is being blamed by many health professionals for the resurgence of measles and other childhood diseases that were on the brink of being eliminated in the U.S. Some parents refuse to vaccinate their children out of fears the procedure will cause autism, although no scientific studies have linked autism to vaccinations.

AMVA noted that pet vaccinations do carry some health risks like any medical procedure, but said their benefits far outweigh their risks.http://prn.to/1CIUJwR