Vaccines and regular health exams are key preventive care measures that are critical to the well-being of your pets, helping to protect them from potentially deadly infectious diseases. Each pet’s health history, disease risk, and current medical conditions are taken into account for a personalized recommendation for your pet by our veterinarians. Our doctors typically recommend immunizations for Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and Rabies in dogs; and Herpes, Calici, Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Rabies in cats. Keeping your family safe is our priority. Diseases such as Leptospirosis and Rabies are zoonotic, meaning they can be passed from animal to human.
Vaccination protects pets from disease by exposing their immune system to inactive bacteria or viruses or parts of a 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 are critical for proper protection. Vaccination is particularly critical in young animals that have naive immune systems. Puppies and kittens typically start vaccinations at 8 weeks of age, and the series is completed around 16 weeks of age.
Vaccinations are generally accompanied by a doctor consultation and examination to ensure your pet is healthy enough for the vaccines. Our goal is to help keep your pet healthy without extra, unnecessary vaccines, so some immunizations can be spread out to every 3 years as the animal ages. We will keep you up to date when your pets are due for booster vaccinations during their adult years, but an annual assessment by one of our veterinarians is recommended.
