Vaccines aren’t just a good idea for humans — pets and livestock need the protection they provide as well, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Especially in the summertime, when the threat rises of diseases carried by other animals and insects such as mosquitoes, MDARD warns in a news release.

“While you should always work with your veterinarian to determine what is best for the health of your animals, ensuring your animals are fully vaccinated plays a critical role in preventing numerous diseases,” State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland said in the release. “Since some diseases — like rabies — affect both animals and people, vaccinating animals works to keep everyone healthy.”

The rabies vaccine is important for dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and other animals. In fact, Michigan law requires dogs and ferrets be vaccinated against this disease. Rabies is often fatal and carried by certain wildlife species in Michigan. Last year, the state had 48 cases of rabies detected in bats. Highly safe and effective vaccines are available to protect animals against this virus.

Other important vaccinations are available to help protect dogs and cats from diseases common to their species. Dogs can be immunized against parvovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis. Like rabies, leptospirosis can affect both animals and people, and it is carried by some of Michigan’s native wildlife. In 2024, 54 cases of leptospirosis were reported in dogs. Of these cases, only five animals were vaccinated and 17 died or were humanely euthanized due to the severity of their illness.

For cats, key vaccines include those for feline leukemia, panleukopenia, herpes virus and calicivirus.

Domestic rabbits can now be vaccinated against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2, an extremely contagious and fatal virus that affects only rabbits and hares. Even though RHDV2 has not been detected in Michigan, cases of the virus have been found in other U.S. states and in four Canadian provinces. In 2021, a U.S.-based vaccine was developed for RHDV2, a vital tool for keeping the disease out of Michigan.

Vaccinations are also crucial for horses, especially for mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and western equine encephalitis. WNV and EEE are regularly seen in Michigan, and EEE is particularly fatal. In 2024, the state had eight cases of WNV and 13 cases of EEE in horses. For a majority of these detections, the animals were either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, and many of the horses died or had to be euthanized, according to MDARD. Horses can also be vaccinated against tetanus.

Consult a veterinarian to determine which vaccinations might be best for each animal and make sure these vaccinations are up to date. One simple visit can make a big difference in protecting animal and human health, MDARD advises.

More information on animal diseases can be found on MDARD’s website, https://www.michigan.gov/mdard. For more resources on equine diseases, including cases in Michigan, go to the Equine Disease Communication Center’s website, https://www.equinediseasecc.org/.