Preventive Care

Vaccinations

Bring your cat, dog, ferret, pocket pet, avian, or reptilian companion for his/her semi-annual preventive care exam and/or vaccinations. If your pet has any medical issues that concern you, please give us a call or use our website or our Facebook page to schedule an appointment.

Having a pet is a serious commitment, and we can help you with all the questions you may have regarding their health and well-being. Your pet solely depends on you for feeding, cleaning, playing, socializing, and of course, proper health care.

Our doctors recommend semi-annual wellness exams. With your help, we can diagnose and address early stages of some diseases, which can be fatal if revealed too late. Our doctors and staff can assist you with questions regarding food, supplements, training, obedience tips, etc.

Vaccinations are one of the most important preventive care programs. They have helped reduce diseases within the pet population and are considered to be the foundation of preventive health care.

We, at VCA A Plus Animal Hospital, recommend the following vaccination protocol:

For puppies, our protocol includes:

  • 8 week set – Canine Distemper – Adenovirus type 2 – Parvovirus vaccine at 8 weeks of age (vaccinating your puppy earlier then 8 weeks of age does not help develop a strong immune response and can be compromising to your pet’s immune system) – one injection only
  • 12 week set – Canine Distemper – Adenovirus type 2 – Parvovirus vaccine, Coronavirus vaccine, and Bordetella – Parainfluenza vaccine (kennel cough) at 12 weeks of age – two injections and one intranasal application
  • 16 week set – Canine Distemper – Adenovirus type 2 – Parvovirus vaccine, Coronavirus vaccine, and Rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age (after this set, your puppy is protected for a year) – three injections

For adult dogs, our protocol includes:

  • First year boosters – Canine Distemper – Adenovirus type 2 – Parvovirus, Coronavirus vaccine, Bordetella – Parainfluenza vaccine (kennel cough), and Rabies vaccine.
  • After the second rabies vaccine, your dog is protected for 3 years for rabies but needs boosters for Canine Distemper – Adenovirus type 2 – Parvovirus every year.
  • Coronavirus is a young puppy disease, and it is not needed after your dog turns 2 years.
  • Bordetella – Parainfluenza vaccine is recommended every 6 months or every year, depending on your dog’s lifestyle.

For kittens, our protocol includes:

  • 8 week set – Feline Rhinotracheitis – Calicivirus – Panleukopenia – Chlamydophila vaccine at 8 weeks of age (vaccinating your kitten earlier then 8 weeks of age does not help develop a strong immune response and can be compromising to your pet’s immune system) – only one injection
  • 12 week set– Feline Rhinotracheitis – Calicivirus – Panleukopenia – Chlamydophila and Feline Leukemia vaccine at 12 weeks of age – two injections
  • 16 week set – Feline Rhinotracheitis – Calicivirus – Panleukopenia – Chlamydophila, Feline Leukemia, and Rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age (after this set, your kitten is protected for a year) – three injections

For adult cats, our protocol includes:

  • Yearly boosters
  • Feline Rhinotracheitis
  • Calicivirus
  • Panleukopenia
  • Chlamydophila
  • Feline Leukemia
  • Rabies vaccine

If your pet has special needs regarding vaccinations, one of our doctors will gladly discuss different options with you and tailor the vaccine protocol for your pet.

The preventive care examination wouldn’t be complete without addressing other important issues concerning your pet’s health, besides vaccinations.

Parasite prevention is the key to keeping you, your family, and your pet healthy. There are numerous parasites, both endoparasites, and ectoparasites (such as roundworms, hookworms, heartworms, fleas, ticks), that can affect your pet and inadvertently, you and your family. We recommend an annual fecal testing to detect any intestinal parasites and also heartworm testing (which includes detection of heartworm presence and three tick-borne diseases). These tests will assist us in tailoring your pet’s prevention protocol and prescribe any necessary preventive medication to ensure your pet continues his or her healthy life.

Proper nutrition is critical to ensuring your pet’s overall health and well-being. The doctors will address any questions you may have regarding your pet’s eating habits during his or her preventive care examination. We recommend Royal Canin pet food, but we can discuss with you any special needs and preferences your pet might have.

Taking care of your pet will involve balancing your busy life with family, friends, jobs, and vacations. To be better prepared for unexpected events with your pet, we can help you choose one of the numerous pet insurance plans. Please discuss this with any of our staff members and refer to the list of pet insurances.

If you have any additional questions regarding regular preventive care examinations, you can contact our office and speak with our highly trained staff.