Vaccines and regular health exams are critical preventive care measures to help protect pets from potentially deadly infectious diseases. Vaccinations protect pets from disease by exposing their body's immune system to inactive or parts of a type of bacteria or virus. Our doctors will help you decide which vaccines are appropriate for your pet's risk factors. Proper administration and giving a vaccine at the correct age and time interval is critical for proper protection. Vaccination is particularly critical in young animals that have naïve immune systems. Vaccination typically starts at 6-8 weeks of age and the puppy and kitten series is completed around 16 weeks of age.
Vaccinations are critical to the well-being of our pets and are generally accompanied by doctor consultation and examination to ensure your pet is healthy enough for the vaccines. Vaccines help protect against potentially deadly viral diseases like Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis and Rabies in dogs, and Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia Virus and Rabies in cats. Your doctor will let you know when your pet is due for booster vaccinations during their adult years.
Dogs:
- Annual Rabies Vaccination - Rabies is always fatal (in both animals and humans). Since there is no cure, prevention by vaccination is the only solution.
- Lifestyle Vaccination Plan - Your dog's lifestyle determines his risk levels for various diseases. Our doctors will individualize a vaccination plan for your dog based on his health and these risk factors. The recommended vaccinations may include Canine Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, Bordetella, Canine Influenza, and/or Lyme and Rattlesnake.
Cats:
- Annual Rabies Vaccination - Rabies is always fatal (in both animals and humans). Since there is no cure, prevention by vaccination is the only solution.
- FVRCP Vaccination - (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) This yearly vaccine protects and maintains your cat's antibody levels to protect them from these common viral diseases.
- Feline Leukemia Vaccination - This vaccine protects cats from the number one cat virus in our area. While it is more common in outdoor cats, it is often seen in indoor cats as well. Your cat is considered "at risk" for leukemia if he spends ANY time outdoors, supervised or not. Yearly boosters comprise the best prevention program. We recommend vaccinating indoor cats as well to maintain high enough antibody levels to protect them in case they get outside, have to stay in the hospital or kennel, or you decide to adopt another cat.
