Final answer:
Dogs should receive their rabies vaccination at 12-16 weeks old and distemper shots starting at 6-8 weeks old with boosters until 16 weeks and at one year old. Cats can be vaccinated for rabies at 12 weeks old, with similar distemper schedules. Booster shots follow every one to three years.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rabies and Distemper Vaccination Ages for Dogs and Cats
In the United States, the low incidence of rabies is primarily due to the vigilant vaccination of domestic animals like dogs and cats, as well as wildlife through oral vaccine programs. Puppies typically receive their rabies vaccination between 12 and 16 weeks of age, while kittens can be vaccinated for rabies as early as 12 weeks. Both young dogs and cats should be vaccinated for distemper as early as 6 to 8 weeks old, with follow-up booster shots given at three to four-week intervals until they reach 16 weeks of age, and then again at one year old. Following the initial vaccinations, dogs and cats usually receive booster shots for rabies and distemper every one to three years based on vaccination laws and individual veterinarian recommendations.
These vaccination practices for pets are crucial to maintain public health and to meet international travel requirements that often require proof of rabies vaccination. By keeping domestic animals vaccinated, it also reduces the need for post-exposure prophylaxis in humans, which involves administering a series of rabies-specific vaccinations in the event of a potential rabies exposure.