As well as skipping their own vaccinations, a worrying number of pet owners are reportedly refusing to get their animals vaccinated as they're worried their furry friend may become autistic as a result.
This trend is thought to be due to a rise in 'anti-vax' materials and messages being spread online.
Because of this, The RSPCA have issued a warning to all pet owners, urging them not to forgo vaccines which could ultimately save the lives of their beloved cats and dogs.
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Caroline Allen, Veterinary Director for RSPCA, says the rise in 'anti-vax' material is "concern" as it may lead to a spread of diseases in pets.
She told the Sun Online: "There does seem to be an increasing amount of 'anti-vax' material online, this is not supported by a genuine evidence base.
"There is a real concern that we will see an increase in the frequency of these serious and preventable diseases, with resulting animal suffering, if the number of vaccinated animals falls."
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UK figures show that over the last few years the number of animals being vaccinated has dropped, with the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) revealing that a quarter of dog owners haven't had their puppies vaccinated.
This means roughly 2.2 million dogs in the UK are currently susceptible to a number of diseases, which is particularly worrying given that our pooches spend a lot of time outside, around spreading agents such as mud and faeces.
And it's not only in the UK that pets are being exposed to horrible diseases such as parvovirus and distemper - vets in the US also say a number of pet owners are skipping vaccines.
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One of the main reasons people are refusing to vaccinate their animals is because of a supposed link between the vaccinations and autism in pets.
Last year Good Morning Britain shared a post on Twitter , suggesting their could be a link between the two, sending social media users into a frenzy.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) were forced to share a statement denying that the two are connected.
In a post on their website, Gudrun Ravetz, Senior Vice President of the BVA, said: "There is currently no reliable scientific evidence to indicate autism in dogs or a link between vaccination and autism.
"Vaccinations save lives and are an important tool in keeping our pets healthy. All medicines have potential side effects but in the cast of vaccines, these are rare ad the benefits of vaccination in protecting against disease far outweigh the potential for an adverse reaction."
Despite this, it seems many pet owners are still skeptical about the possible side effects.
Pet owners in the UK are not legally required to vaccinate their pets, but most animal welfare organisations strongly recommend it.
Animals that travel abroad from the UK must have had a rabies vaccination.
